3 Ways To Disable Scrolling In Javascript

Welcome to a tutorial on how to disable scrolling in Javascript. Need to disable scrolling on the page? Let the user fill something up before moving on? Sadly, there are no native implementations to disable scrolling in Javascript; We can only “simulate” a scroll lock using various alternatives.

That covers the quick basics, but read on for detailed examples!

ⓘ I have included a zip file with all the source code at the start of this tutorial, so you don’t have to copy-paste everything… Or if you just want to dive straight in.

 

 

TLDR – QUICK SLIDES

Fullscreen Mode – Click Here

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

QUICK NOTES

If you spot a bug, feel free to comment below. I try to answer short questions too, but it is one person versus the entire world… If you need answers urgently, please check out my list of websites to get help with programming.

 

EXAMPLE CODE DOWNLOAD

Click here to download all the example source code, I have released it under the MIT license, so feel free to build on top of it or use it in your own project.

 

 

 

METHOD 1) FORCE SCROLL

<!-- (A) LOCK TO CURRENT POSITION -->
<script>
function lockA () {
  var xPos = window.scrollX;
  var yPos = window.scrollY;
  window.onscroll = () => window.scroll(xPos, yPos);
}
</script>
<input type="button" value="Lock Current" onclick="lockA()">
 
<!-- (B) LOCK TO SPECIFIC ELEMENT -->
<script>
function lockB () {
  var target = document.getElementById("demoB");
  target.scrollIntoView();
  window.onscroll = () => target.scrollIntoView();
}
</script>
<input id="demoB" type="button" value="Lock To This Button" onclick="lockB()">
 
<!-- (C) UNLOCK -->
<script>
function unlock () { window.onscroll = ""; }
</script>
<input type="button" value="Unlock" onclick="unlock()">

What’s the next best thing to do when there are no native “disable scroll” functions?

• We add a scroll listener – window.onscroll.
• Force scroll the user back to a certain spot – window.scroll(X, Y).
• Or force scroll to a specific element – ELEMENT.scrollIntoView().

 

 

METHOD 2) HIDE OVERFLOW

<script>
// (A) DISABLE SCROLL
function noflow () {
  document.body.style.overflow = "hidden";
  document.body.style.userSelect = "none";
}

// (B) ENABLE SCROLL
function haveflow () {
  document.body.style.overflow = "auto";
  document.body.style.userSelect = "auto";
}
</script>
<input type="button" value="Lock" onclick="noflow()">
<input type="button" value="Unlock" onclick="haveflow()">

This is the other “common trick” that involves the use of CSS instead.

• By setting overflow = "none", we will hide the scrollbars and effectively disable scrolling.
• But users can still scroll by highlighting the text, so we add another userSelect = "none" to prevent that.

 

 

METHOD 3) FULLSCREEN DIALOG BOX

<style>
/* (A) DIALOG BOX CSS */
#dialog {
  position: fixed;
  top: 0; left: 0;
  z-index: 999;
  width: 100vw; height: 100vh;
  background: #fff;
  display: none;
}
body.dopen { overflow: hidden; }
body.dopen #dialog { display: block; }
</style>
 
<script>
// (B) SHOW & HIDE DIALOG BOX
function dshow () {
  document.body.classList.add("dopen");
}
function dhide () {
  document.body.classList.remove("dopen");
}
</script>
 
<!-- (C) HTML DIALOG BOX -->
<input type="button" value="Lock" onclick="dshow()">
<div id="dialog">
  <input type="button" value="Unlock" onclick="dhide()">
</div>

Lastly for you guys who are looking for a less “hacky” method, just put the contents into a fullscreen wrapper or dialog box.

 

 

DON’T LOCK UNNECESSARILY!

Lastly, don’t lock the scroll for the sake of locking it… That is kind of a bad interface design and will probably confuse the users even more. If you just need the user to fill in a form field, just highlight it. If you want a step-by-step wizard, create multiple <div> containers instead.

 

COMPATIBILITY CHECKS

• Arrow Functions – CanIUse
• Scroll Into View – CanIUse
• Viewport Units (vw vh) – CanIUse

All 3 methods will work on any modern browser.

 

LINKS & REFERENCES

• How To Scroll In Javascript – Code Boxx

 

INFOGRAPHIC CHEAT SHEET