Mastering React ScrollRestoration For Better Navigation

Scroll management is critical to delivering a seamless user experience in modern web applications. React Router offers ScrollRestoration to handle and manage the scroll position when a user navigates through different routes or reloads a page.

In this blog, we will explore how React Router ScrollRestoration works, how to restore the scroll position, and why this feature is crucial for creating smooth navigation experiences.

What is ScrollRestoration in React Router?

ScrollRestoration is a React Router component designed to manage the scroll position of the page when the location changes. When users navigate between pages or reload a page, restoring the scroll position ensures they land on the right spot, providing a more natural browsing experience. Without scroll restoration, users might experience inconsistent scrolling behavior, especially in single-page applications.

The browser's default behavior is to maintain the scroll position on page reload, but this may not always align with your app's requirements. React Router allows you to customize and prevent scroll restoration for specific routes.

Default Scroll Behavior in the Browser

The browser's scroll restoration feature keeps the scroll position unchanged when the user reloads the page. However, in React Router-based applications, where the entire page does not reload, the scroll position might not behave as expected. This can lead to situations where the user remains at the same scroll position after navigating to a different route, creating a confusing experience.

Example of Browser's Default Scroll Behavior

1<script>
2  window.history.scrollRestoration = "auto";
3</script>

​

The above script tag sets the browser’s scroll restoration to the default behavior. In React Router apps, we need more control to ensure consistent scroll behavior.

React Router ScrollRestoration Component

The ScrollRestoration component in React Router DOM addresses these challenges. It enables restoring scroll positions when users navigate back and forth between routes or reload a page. This component listens for location changes and restores the scroll position to its previous value.

Installation

Ensure you have React Router DOM installed:

1npm install react-router-dom

​

Using the ScrollRestoration Component

1import { ScrollRestoration } from "react-router-dom";
2
3function App() {
4  return (
5    <div>
6      <ScrollRestoration />
7      {/* Other components and routes */}
8    </div>
9  );
10}

​

By placing the ScrollRestoration component inside your app, the user's scroll position is automatically restored when they navigate between pages or revisit a previously visited location.

Handling Scroll Restoration for a Seamless User Experience

When you want to customize how scroll restoration works in your app, you can pass a getKey prop or use other options. This flexibility is useful when dealing with complex layouts or nested routes.

Customizing Scroll Restoration

1import { ScrollRestoration } from "react-router-dom";
2
3function App() {
4  return (
5    <div>
6      <ScrollRestoration
7        getKey={(location, key) => location.pathname} // Restores scroll position based on pathname
8      />
9    </div>
10  );
11}

​

In this example, the getKey prop generates a unique identifier for each location based on its pathname, ensuring the correct scroll position is restored.

Preventing Scroll Flashing

One of the benefits of handling scroll restoration manually is avoiding scroll flashing. When the scroll position resets incorrectly or flashes between values, it degrades the user experience. Using React Router ScrollRestoration, you can prevent this issue.

Manual Scroll Restoration

For more advanced use cases, you can implement manual scroll restoration by listening to location changes and controlling the scroll position programmatically.

Example of Manual Scroll Restoration

1import { useEffect } from "react";
2import { useLocation } from "react-router-dom";
3
4function ManualScrollRestoration() {
5  const location = useLocation();
6
7  useEffect(() => {
8    window.scrollTo(0, 0); // Scroll to the top on every location change
9  }, [location]);
10
11  return null;
12}

​

This approach gives you complete control over the scroll behavior and is suitable for applications with custom requirements.

Restoring Scroll Position on Page Reload

When a user reloads the page, it is important to ensure the scroll position is restored correctly. The ScrollRestoration component handles this scenario effectively without additional configuration.

Best Practices for Scroll Restoration in React Router

• Use ScrollRestoration for a consistent and seamless navigation experience.

• Customize the getKey prop to restore the scroll position based on your app’s structure.

• Avoid unnecessary resetting of the scroll position, which can confuse users.

• Handle link clicks and navigation carefully to maintain the right spot on the page.

Final Thoughts!

ScrollRestoration in React Router is a powerful tool for managing the scroll position in single-page applications. It ensures that when a user navigates between routes or reloads a page, they return to the same scroll position. This provides a seamless user experience, enhances navigation, and prevents issues like scroll flashing. By integrating the ScrollRestoration component, developers can easily maintain scroll behavior across different routes and page reloads, improving the overall usability of their apps.

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