How to Hide Scroll Bar in CSS While Maintaining Scroll Functionality

To hide the scroll bar in CSS while maintaining scroll functionality, you can use the ::-webkit-scrollbar pseudo-element along with some CSS properties. Here are two possible ways to achieve this:

Method 1: Using the ::-webkit-scrollbar Pseudo-element

One way to hide the scroll bar is by using the ::-webkit-scrollbar pseudo-element. This pseudo-element allows you to style the scroll bar in WebKit-based browsers, such as Google Chrome and Safari.

Here’s an example of how you can use the ::-webkit-scrollbar pseudo-element to hide the scroll bar:

/* Hide the scrollbar */
::-webkit-scrollbar {
  display: none;
}

Related Article: How to Fix CSS Text Overflow Ellipsis Issue

Method 2: Using the overflow Property

Another way to hide the scroll bar is by using the overflow property. This method works in all modern browsers.

Here’s an example of how you can use the overflow property to hide the scroll bar:

/* Hide the scrollbar */
.element {
  overflow: auto;
  scrollbar-width: none; /* Firefox */
  -ms-overflow-style: none; /* Internet Explorer and Edge */
}

/* Show the scrollbar on hover (optional) */
.element:hover {
  scrollbar-width: auto; /* Firefox */
  -ms-overflow-style: auto; /* Internet Explorer and Edge */
}

In this example, the overflow property is set to auto, which enables scrolling when there is content that exceeds the element’s dimensions. The scrollbar-width property is set to none to hide the scroll bar in Firefox, and the -ms-overflow-style property is set to none to hide the scroll bar in Internet Explorer and Edge.

Please note that the ::-webkit-scrollbar pseudo-element is not supported in Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Edge, so using the overflow property is a more cross-browser solution.

Alternative Ideas

If you want to keep the scroll bar visible but style it to blend with your website’s design, you can use CSS to customize its appearance. This can be achieved using the ::-webkit-scrollbar pseudo-element along with various CSS properties such as background-color, width, border-radius, and box-shadow. However, please note that this method is only applicable to WebKit-based browsers.

Here’s an example of how you can style the scroll bar:

/* <a href="https://www.squash.io/how-to-style-css-scrollbars/">Style the scrollbar</a> */
::-webkit-scrollbar {
  width: 8px;
  background-color: #f1f1f1;
}

/* Style the thumb (the draggable handle) */
::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
  background-color: #888;
  border-radius: 4px;
}

/* Change the color of the thumb on hover */
::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover {
  background-color: #555;
}

In this example, the ::-webkit-scrollbar pseudo-element is used to style the scroll bar, while the ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb pseudo-element is used to style the thumb. You can customize the appearance of the scroll bar and thumb by changing the respective CSS properties.

Best Practices

When hiding the scroll bar, it’s important to consider the usability and accessibility of your website or application. While hiding the scroll bar can provide a cleaner interface, users may still rely on scroll bars for navigation and indication of scrollable content.

Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

1. Test your solution: Before implementing any scroll bar customization or hiding techniques, thoroughly test your solution across different browsers and devices to ensure consistent behavior and usability.

2. Provide alternative navigation: If you choose to hide the scroll bar, consider providing alternative navigation options, such as scroll indicators or buttons, to help users navigate through the content.

3. Consider user preferences: Some users may have their browser or operating system settings configured to always show scroll bars. Respect user preferences and avoid forcing a specific scroll bar behavior.

4. Accessibility considerations: Ensure that your solution is accessible to users who rely on assistive technologies. Test your website or application with screen readers and other assistive technologies to ensure that hidden scroll bars do not create accessibility barriers.

5. Use CSS vendor prefixes: When using CSS properties like ::-webkit-scrollbar, it’s a good practice to include vendor prefixes for maximum browser compatibility. For example, you can use -webkit- for WebKit-based browsers and -moz- for Firefox.

Overall, hiding the scroll bar in CSS while maintaining scroll functionality can provide a more streamlined and visually appealing user experience. However, it’s important to consider usability and accessibility when implementing such techniques.

Related Article: How to Disable Scrolling On Body Using CSS