The early web landscape was a dark, dry place where websites were mostly used for informational purposes. With new technologies, more powerful computers, faster browsing and features like animations, video and sound effects, today’s websites are more engaging than ever before. Another shift that websites are going through is the ability to scroll. Parallax scrolling is the reason why websites are getting more exciting, interesting and interactive.
Fullscreen Sites are on the Decline
Traditional websites featured a fullscreen layout, which is designed to display all content above the fold (the bottom of the screen). The goal of fullscreen layouts is to place all important information at the top of the webpage before people scroll down. This concept is similar to a book or magazine where the content is arranged in a specific area, and transitions are needed to navigate the content.
Fullscreen sites work well on computers, but on mobile devices, they fall short. You’ve probably experienced this when navigating a fullscreen website on your smartphone or tablet with your finger. It can be frustrating and difficult to do, which may force you to leave the site. That’s where scrolling sites enter the picture.
Scrolling Sites are on the Rise
Scrolling sites position content vertically so that it naturally overflows. The format looks amazing on computers and laptops, but it offers the most potential on smartphones and other mobile devices. With the simple swipe of the finger, you’re able to navigate the content on the website with ease. This leads to a more enjoyable experience, as well as the ability to read through more content in one glance.
Since a growing number of people are reading content from their smartphones and tablets, more brands are turning their own sites into a scrolling version. Thanks to faster Javascript and flexible CSS, scrolling sites look visually stunning as well, so you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for function.
Growing Potential and Customization
To make your site unique and engaging, you may choose to trigger certain events as users scroll through the site, such as playing a video. Or, you may choose to add parallax movement that allows different layers on a page to move at various speeds based on the scroll movement. Scrolling sites may also tell a story and show long, dynamic content in an attractive manner.
With the emergence of mobile devices and a new way that people are enjoying content, scrolling sites make perfect sense for today’s brands.
