Smooth Scroll in Vanilla JS

This Vanilla JS code snippet helps you to create a smooth scroll to sections. It comes with a smooth scrolling list in which list items can be clicked and it will smoothly scroll up. You can integrate this code snippet to make a smooth scrolling list.

How to Create Smooth Scroll in Vanilla JS

1. First of all, create the HTML structure as follows:

 <ul>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
  <li>CLICK TO SCROLL HERE</li>
</ul>

2. After that, add the following CSS styles to your project:

* {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  -moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale;
  -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
  -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
  -moz-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
  tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
}

ul li:nth-child(1) {
  color: rgba(60, 60, 80, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.0333333333);
}

ul li:nth-child(2) {
  color: rgba(120, 120, 160, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.0666666667);
}

ul li:nth-child(3) {
  color: rgba(180, 180, 240, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.1);
}

ul li:nth-child(4) {
  color: rgba(240, 240, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.1333333333);
}

ul li:nth-child(5) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.1666666667);
}

ul li:nth-child(6) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.2);
}

ul li:nth-child(7) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.2333333333);
}

ul li:nth-child(8) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.2666666667);
}

ul li:nth-child(9) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.3);
}

ul li:nth-child(10) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.3333333333);
}

ul li:nth-child(11) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.3666666667);
}

ul li:nth-child(12) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.4);
}

ul li:nth-child(13) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.4333333333);
}

ul li:nth-child(14) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.4666666667);
}

ul li:nth-child(15) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.5);
}

ul li:nth-child(16) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.5333333333);
}

ul li:nth-child(17) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.5666666667);
}

ul li:nth-child(18) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.6);
}

ul li:nth-child(19) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.6333333333);
}

ul li:nth-child(20) {
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
  background: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.6666666667);
}

ul {
  position: relative;
  top: 0;
  right: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 90%;
  max-width: 300px;
  height: 640px;
  overflow: auto;
  margin: auto;
  border-radius: 4px;
  box-shadow: 0 3px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.16), 0 3px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.23);
}
ul li {
  width: 100%;
  height: 80px;
  font: 300 12px/80px Arial, sans-serif;
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5);
  text-align: center;
  list-style: none;
  cursor: pointer;
}
ul li.is-selected {
  background: #fbfbfb;
  color: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.5);
}

3. Finally, add the following JavaScript code and done.

document.
querySelector('ul').
addEventListener('click', function (e) {
  smoothScrollTo(selected(e.target, this).offsetTop, this);
});

function smoothScrollTo(destination, parent, time) {
  let scroll = init();
  requestAnimationFrame(shouldScroll);

  function init() {
    let start = parent.scrollTop;
    let ticks = time || 30;
    let i = 0;
    let positionY = () => (destination - start) * i / ticks + start;
    let isFinished = () => i++ >= ticks;
    return { positionY, isFinished };
  }

  function shouldScroll() {
    if (scroll.isFinished()) return;
    parent.scrollTop = scroll.positionY();
    requestAnimationFrame(shouldScroll);
  }
}

function selected(elem, parent) {
  for (let i = 0; i < parent.children.length; i++) {
    parent.children[i].classList.remove('is-selected');
  }
  elem.classList.add('is-selected');
  return elem;
}

That’s all! hopefully, you have successfully integrated this smooth scroll code snippet into your project. If you have any questions or facing any issues, feel free to comment below.

Asif Mughal

I code and create web elements for amazing people around the world. I like work with new people. New people new Experiences.
I truly enjoy what I’m doing, which makes me more passionate about web development and coding. I am always ready to do challenging tasks whether it is about creating a custom CMS from scratch or customizing an existing system.