FloatSidebar.js is a lightweight (2kb gzipped), zero-dependency JavaScript library that creates sticky, floating sidebars. It keeps the sidebar visible in the viewport by dynamically sticking it to the top or bottom based on scroll direction and sidebar height.

• When the sidebar is taller than the viewport, it scrolls with the content, sticking to the bottom when scrolling down and to the top when scrolling up.
• When the sidebar is shorter than the viewport: it stays fixed at the top during scrolling.

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/5039436/164990489-0424b5ab-c231-4f5c-bc1b-fc3f9594e347.mov

Demo

Install

npm install float-sidebar --save

or

yarn add float-sidebar

Usage

<div class="wrapper">
  <div class="content">
    <!-- Content -->
  </div>

  <div class="sidebar">
    <div class="sidebar__inner">
      <!-- Sidebar content -->
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

.wrapper {
  display: flex;
  /* Required when using infinite scroll */
  align-items: flex-start;
}

.sidebar {
  /* Required */
  position: relative;

  /* Required. The sidebar element should have a fixed width */
  width: 220px;
}

import FloatSidebar from 'float-sidebar';

const sidebar = document.querySelector('.sidebar');
const relative = document.querySelector('.content');

const floatSidebar = FloatSidebar({
  sidebar,
  relative,
  topSpacing: 20,
  bottomSpacing: 20,
});

// ...

floatSidebar.forceUpdate();

// ...

floatSidebar.destroy();

Options

| Name | Type | Default | Description | |:------------- |:------------- |:--------------------------- | ---------------- | | sidebar | HTMLElement | Required | The sidebar element | | relative | HTMLElement | Required | The sidebar relative element, e.g. the main content | | viewport | HTMLElement | window | The viewport element | | sidebarInner | HTMLElement | sidebar.firstElementChild | The sidebar inner element | | topSpacing | number | 0 | The space from the top of the viewport. Used when the sidebar is in fixed state. | | bottomSpacing | number | 0 | The space from the bottom of the viewport. Used when the sidebar is in fixed state. |

Instance API

| Method | Description | | :------------ | :------------------------------------------------------------- | | forceUpdate() | Recalculates the dimensions and updates the sidebar's position | | destroy() | Cleans up DOM references and listeners |

Similar libraries

• https://github.com/abouolia/sticky-sidebar

License

FloatSidebar.js is released under the MIT license.

Author Sergey Vinogradov