Building a Scrollable Navbar with React: A Step-by-Step Guide
Tags: react, nextjs, tailwindcss, javascript
Published: 2023-10-12 12:04:20

Are you looking to create an engaging and interactive website with a dynamic scrolling navbar? You’ve come to the right place. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a scrollable navbar in React that hides when the user scrolls down and reappears when they scroll up. This effect is a common feature on modern websites and can greatly enhance the user experience. Let’s get started!

## Prerequisites
Before we dive into the code, make sure you have the following:

- Node.js and npm installed on your computer.
- Basic knowledge of React.js.
- A text editor or integrated development environment (IDE) of your choice.

## Setting Up the Project

First, create a new React project using _<u>create-react-app</u>_ or your preferred method. Once your project is set up, you can create a new component for the scrollable navbar. For this tutorial, we'll call it _<u>ScrollNavbar.js</u>_.

```

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
const ScrollNavbar = () => {
  // State variables to manage scroll behavior
  const [prevScrollpos, setPrevScrollpos] = useState(window.pageYOffset);
  const [top, setTop] = useState(0);
  useEffect(() => {
    // Function to handle scroll events
    const handleScroll = () => {
      const currentScrollPos = window.pageYOffset;
      if (prevScrollpos > currentScrollPos) {
        setTop(0); // Show navbar
      } else {
        setTop(-50); // Hide navbar
      }
      setPrevScrollpos(currentScrollPos);
    };
    // Add scroll event listener when the component mounts
    window.addEventListener('scroll', handleScroll);
    // Clean up by removing the event listener when the component unmounts
    return () => {
      window.removeEventListener('scroll', handleScroll);
    };
  }, [prevScrollpos]);
  // Styles for the navbar and links
  const navbarStyle = {
    backgroundColor: '#333',
    position: 'fixed',
    top: `${top}px`,
    width: '100%',
    display: 'block',
    transition: 'top 0.3s',
  };
  const linkStyle = {
    float: 'left',
    display: 'block',
    color: '#f2f2f2',
    textAlign: 'center',
    padding: '15px',
    textDecoration: 'none',
    fontSize: '17px',
  };
  return (
    <div>
      <div id="navbar" style={navbarStyle}>
        <a href="#home" style={linkStyle}>
          Home
        </a>
        <a href="#news" style={linkStyle}>
          News
        </a>
        <a href="#contact" style={linkStyle}>
          Contact
        </a>
      </div>
      <div
        style={{
          padding: '15px 15px 2500px',
          fontSize: '30px',
          marginTop: '30px',
        }}
      >
        <p>
          <b>This example demonstrates how to hide a navbar when the user starts to scroll the page.</b>
        </p>
        {/* ... Rest of your content ... */}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
};
export default ScrollNavbar;
```

## How It Works

In this code, we start by defining two state variables, <u>_prevScrollpos_</u> and _<u>top</u>_, which will help us manage the scroll behavior of the navbar. The <u>_useEffect_</u> hook is used to add an event listener to the _<u>window</u>_ object to detect scroll events. When the user scrolls down, the <u>_top_</u> value is set to _<u>-50px</u>_, causing the navbar to hide. Conversely, when the user scrolls up, the _<u>top</u>_ value is set to <u>_0_</u>, making the navbar visible again.

## Styling Your Navbar

You can customize the appearance of the navbar and links by modifying the _<u>navbarStyle</u>_ and <u>_linkStyle_</u> objects. Adjust the colors, fonts, and other CSS properties to match your website's design.

## Integrating the ScrollNavbar Component

Now that you have created the <u>_ScrollNavbar_</u> component, you can easily integrate it into your application by importing it and rendering it where you want the scrollable navbar to appear.

```

import React from 'react';
import ScrollNavbar from './ScrollNavbar';
function App() {
  return (
    <div>
      <ScrollNavbar />
      {/* Your content goes here */}
    </div>
  );
}
export default App;
```

## Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve successfully built a scrollable navbar in React that hides when the user scrolls down and reappears when they scroll up. This dynamic effect can greatly enhance the user experience of your website. Feel free to further customize the styles and integrate this component into your web project. Happy coding!

Now, go ahead and test your scrollable navbar in your React application. Enjoy the improved user experience it brings to your website!