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Preet Suthar
Preet Suthar

Posted on • Originally published at preetsuthar.me

Sticky navbar only using CSS

One effective technique to enhance navigation is by implementing a sticky navbar. A sticky navbar remains fixed at the top of the page as users scroll, providing easy access to important links and content. In this blog post, we'll delve into the process of creating a sticky navbar using HTML and CSS, with a focus on the position: sticky and top: 0 properties.

Understanding the position: sticky Property:

The position: sticky property is a powerful CSS attribute that blends the behaviors of both position: relative and position: fixed. It allows an element to behave as relatively positioned within its parent container until a certain threshold (usually defined by the viewport) is reached. Once this threshold is crossed during scrolling, the element becomes fixed to the specified position.

HTML Structure:

Before we dive into the CSS, let's set up the HTML structure for our sticky navbar:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <!-- Meta tags, title, and link to CSS -->
</head>
<body>
  <header class="sticky-header">
    <nav>
      <ul>
        <li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">About</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">Services</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">Portfolio</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
      </ul>
    </nav>
  </header>
  <!-- Rest of the page content -->
</body>
</html>
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Applying the CSS:

Now, let's bring our sticky navbar to life using the position: sticky property and the top: 0 value:

body {
  margin: 0;
  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
}

.sticky-header {
  background-color: #333;
  color: #fff;
  position: sticky; /* Apply the sticky positioning */
  top: 0; /* Stick the element to the top of the viewport */
  z-index: 100; /* Ensure the navbar is above other content */
}

.sticky-header nav {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
  align-items: center;
  padding: 10px 20px;
}

.sticky-header ul {
  list-style: none;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  display: flex;
}

.sticky-header li {
  margin-right: 20px;
}

.sticky-header a {
  text-decoration: none;
  color: #fff;
}
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Achieving a Smooth User Experience:

Implementing a sticky navbar isn't just about sticking an element to the top. To create a smooth and engaging user experience, consider these additional tips:

  1. Responsive Design: Ensure your sticky navbar is responsive and adapts gracefully to different screen sizes. Utilize CSS media queries to adjust styles as needed.

  2. Transition Effects: Apply CSS transition effects to smoothly animate the transition from relative to fixed positioning. This enhances the visual appeal and professionalism of your navbar.

  3. Clear Design: Keep the design of your navbar clean and easy to read. Clear typography and well-spaced navigation links contribute to a positive user experience.

  4. Testing and Feedback: Test your sticky navbar across different browsers and devices to ensure consistent behavior. Consider gathering user feedback to make improvements.

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