How to make faster scroll effects?

03 Mar 2014

How to make faster scroll effects?

Avoid too many reflows (the browser to recalculate everything)
Use advanced CSS3 for graphic card rendering
Precalculate sizes and positions

Beware of reflows

The reflow appens as many times as there are frames per seconds. It recalculate all positions that change in order to diplay them. Basically, when you scroll you execute a function where you move things between two reflows. But there are functions that triggers reflows such as jQuery offset, scroll... So there are two things to take care about when you dynamically change objects in javascript to avoid too many reflows:

use window.pageYOffset to get the scroll position
prefer requestAnimationFrame than onScroll event.

Why is requestAnimationFrame (really) faster than the scroll event? Actually the scroll event popups whenever it wants, even if you haven't finished calculating the previous position, or between two reflows... While the requestAnimationFrame can only popup if the previous frame was calculated. So you save reflows out of your loop function, and you manage to never overlap two calculations.

// Detect request animation frame
var scroll = window.requestAnimationFrame ||
             window.webkitRequestAnimationFrame ||
             window.mozRequestAnimationFrame ||
             window.msRequestAnimationFrame ||
             window.oRequestAnimationFrame ||
             // IE Fallback, you can even fallback to onscroll
             function(callback){ window.setTimeout(callback, 1000/60) };

function loop(){

    var top = window.pageYOffset;

    // Where the magic goes
    // ...

    // Recall the loop
    scroll( loop )
}

// Call the loop for the first time
loop();

This does half of the work.

Graphic rendering

On modern webkit, if you use 3D css then your elements are both cached as bitmap (one object to render for the element and children) and rendered by the GPU. This works for scroll effects, but actually also for every kind of animations and transitions. It works really (really) well on the mobile too.

transform: translate3d(0,0,0);
-moz-transform: translate3d(0,0,0);
-webkit-transform: translate3d(0,0,0);

Be carefull with position:fixed inside a 3D element, they will appear like they were absolute.

Save calculations

Like I said before, the browser is calculating a lot of things when you modify the DOM. A smooth animation should have between 30 and 60 frames (and reflows) per second. If you ask too much calculation at each frame then your animation will be slower. jQuery doesn't help much for that (big objects, no cache).

Since the requestAnimationFrame works all the time and not only when you scroll, you better tells your browser that it has nothing to calculate if you haven't scrolled:

var lastPosition = -1;

function loop(){
    // Avoid calculations if not needed
    if (lastPosition == window.pageYOffset) {
        scroll(loop);
        return false;
    } else lastPosition = window.pageYOffset;

    //... calculations

    scroll( loop );
}

I suggest you to have a look at the whole attached piece of code, that is structured like that:

Detect advanced features
Define all variables
Precalculation function (called on load and resize)
Loop function (called up to 60 times per second)
- Try to skip calculations
- Find elements that will change
- Modify the DOM

HTML

<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
    <meta charset='utf-8'>
    <title>Faster scroll effect</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="fse.css">
</head>
<body>
<div id="wrapper">
    <section>
        <article>
            <h1>SCROLL DOWN</h1>
        </article>
    </section>
    <section class="stick">
        <article>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>

        </article>
    </section>
    <section class="stick">
        <article>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
        </article>
    </section>
    <section>
        <article>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
            <p> Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
            tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam,
            quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo
            consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse
            cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non
            proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.</p>
        </article>
    </section>
</div>
<script src="fse.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

CSS

    html, body {
        height: 100%;
        font: 19px "Helvetica Neue", "Helvetica", sans-serif;
        color: #333;
    }

    section {
        background: white;
        position: fixed;
        display:block;
        top: 0;
        left: 0;
        width: 100%;
        min-height: 100%;
        overflow: hidden;
        z-index: 100;
        transform: translate3d(0,0,0);
        -moz-transform: translate3d(0,0,0);
        -webkit-transform: translate3d(0,0,0);
    }
    section.stick {
        z-index: 10;
    }

    /* Decoration */
    section:nth-child(1){
        background: url(http://i.images.cdn.fotopedia.com/alibradshaw-bs7HFo22Ff4-hd/New_York_City/New_York_City.jpg);
        /* Ali Bradshaw - http://www.fotopedia.com/wiki/New_York_City#!/items/alibradshaw-bs7HFo22Ff4 */
        background-size: cover;
    }
    section:nth-child(2){
        background: #f5f5f5;
    }
    section:nth-child(4){
        background: #fff;
    }
    section:nth-child(3){
        background: url(http://i.images.cdn.fotopedia.com/fransimo-onrEHtg2404-hd/New_York_City/Rector_Street.jpg);
        /*  Fran Simó - http://www.fotopedia.com/wiki/New_York_City#!/items/fransimo-onrEHtg2404 */
        background-size: cover;
        color: #fff;
        text-shadow: 0 0 3px #000;
        text-align: right;
    }
    article {
        width: 600px;
        margin: 60px auto;
    }
    section:nth-child(3) article {
        float: right;
        margin: 60px;
    }
    h1, h2, h3 {
        font-family: "HelveticaNeue-CondensedBold", "Helvetica Neue", "Helvetica", sans-serif;
        font-weight: bold;
        font-stretch: condensed;
    }

    h1 {
        text-align: center;
        font-size: 60px;
        color: #fff;
    }
    h1:before {
        content: "⬇"; /* ↓ ⇓ */
    }

JS

/*
 * Faster Scroll Effect
 * Version: 0.1
 * Copyright 2012
 * MIT Licence
 */

(function() {

    // Detect css transform
    var cssTransform = (function() {
        var prefixes = 'transform webkitTransform mozTransform oTransform msTransform'.split(' '),
            el = document.createElement('div'),
            cssTransform, i = 0
        while (cssTransform === undefined) {
            cssTransform = document.createElement('div').style[prefixes[i]] != undefined ? prefixes[i] : undefined
            i++
        }
        return cssTransform
    })()

    // Detect request animation frame
    var scroll = window.requestAnimationFrame || window.webkitRequestAnimationFrame || window.mozRequestAnimationFrame || window.msRequestAnimationFrame || window.oRequestAnimationFrame || function(callback) {
            window.setTimeout(callback, 1000 / 60)
        },
        // Vars
        lastPosition = -1,
        wHeight = window.innerHeight,
        wrapper = document.getElementById("wrapper"),
        elements = document.getElementsByTagName("section"),
        size = elements.length,
        matrix = []

    // Pre calculate sizes to get better perfs
    function sizes() {
        lastPosition = -1 // Force a recalculation
        wHeight = window.innerHeight
        var i = 0
        for (i = 0; i < size; i++) {
            matrix[i] = matrix[i] || {
                el: elements[i]
            }

            // Reinit 
            matrix[i].el.style.display = "block"

            matrix[i].height = matrix[i].el.offsetHeight
            matrix[i].start = matrix[i - 1] ? matrix[i - 1].stop : 0
            matrix[i].stop = matrix[i - 1] ? matrix[i - 1].stop + matrix[i].height : matrix[i].height
            matrix[i].isScroll = matrix[i].el.className.indexOf("stick") < 0

            // If it's sticked but higher than the screen...
            if (matrix[i].height - wHeight > 0) matrix[i].gap = matrix[i].height - wHeight

            // Let's find a index
            matrix[i].el.style.zIndex = !matrix[i].isScroll ? 10 - i : 100 - i
        }
        wrapper.style.height = matrix[i - 1].stop + "px"
    }
    window.onresize = sizes

    function setTop(m, t) {
        if (cssTransform)
            m.el.style[cssTransform] = "translate3d(0, " + t + "px,0)"
        else
            m.el.style["top"] = t
    }

    function loop() {
        // Avoid calculations if not needed
        if (lastPosition == window.pageYOffset) {
            scroll(loop)
            return false
        } else lastPosition = window.pageYOffset

        var i = 0
        for (i = 0; i < size; i++) {
            // Is it visible right now?
            if (lastPosition >= matrix[i].start - wHeight && lastPosition <= matrix[i].stop) {
                matrix[i].el.style.display = "block"
                if (
                    // Is it scrolling?
                    (matrix[i].isScroll) ||
                    // Or is it stick, but higher than window?
                    (!matrix[i].isScroll && matrix[i].gap && lastPosition >= matrix[i].start)
                )
                    setTop(matrix[i], matrix[i].start - lastPosition)
            } else {
                matrix[i].el.style.display = "none"
            }
        }
        scroll(loop)
    }

    // Let's go
    sizes()
    loop()

})();

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