--- layout: docs title: Scrollspy description: Automatically update Bootstrap navigation or list group components based on scroll position to indicate which link is currently active in the viewport. group: components toc: true --- ## How it works Scrollspy toggles the `.active` class on anchor (``) elements when the element with the `id` referenced by the anchor's `href` is scrolled into view. Scrollspy is best used in conjunction with a Bootstrap [nav component]({{< docsref "/components/navs-tabs" >}}) or [list group]({{< docsref "/components/list-group" >}}), but it will also work with any anchor elements in the current page. Here's how it works. - To start, scrollspy requires two things: a navigation, list group, or a simple set of links, plus a scrollable container. The scrollable container can be the `` or a custom element with a set `height` and `overflow-y: scroll`. - On the scrollable container, add `data-bs-spy="scroll"` and `data-bs-target="#navId"` where `navId` is the unique `id` of the associated navigation. Be sure to also include a `tabindex="0"` to ensure keyboard access. - As you scroll the "spied" container, an `.active` class is added and removed from anchor links within the associated navigation. Links must have resolvable `id` targets, otherwise they're ignored. For example, a `home` must correspond to something in the DOM like `
` - Target elements that aren't visible will be ignored and their corresponding nav items will never receive an `.active` class. Checkout the examples below to see it in action. ## Examples ### Navbar Scroll the area below the navbar and watch the active class change. Open the dropdown menu and watch the dropdown items be highlighted as well.

First heading

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Second heading

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Third heading

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Fourth heading

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Fifth heading

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

```html

First heading

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Second heading

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Third heading

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Fourth heading

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Fifth heading

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``` ### Nested nav Scrollspy also works with nested `.nav`s. If a nested `.nav` is `.active`, its parents will also be `.active`. Scroll the area next to the navbar and watch the active class change.

Item 1

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Keep in mind that the JavaScript plugin tries to pick the right element among all that may be visible. Multiple visible scrollspy targets at the same time may cause some issues.

Item 1-1

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Keep in mind that the JavaScript plugin tries to pick the right element among all that may be visible. Multiple visible scrollspy targets at the same time may cause some issues.

Item 1-2

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Keep in mind that the JavaScript plugin tries to pick the right element among all that may be visible. Multiple visible scrollspy targets at the same time may cause some issues.

Item 2

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Keep in mind that the JavaScript plugin tries to pick the right element among all that may be visible. Multiple visible scrollspy targets at the same time may cause some issues.

Item 3

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Keep in mind that the JavaScript plugin tries to pick the right element among all that may be visible. Multiple visible scrollspy targets at the same time may cause some issues.

Item 3-1

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Keep in mind that the JavaScript plugin tries to pick the right element among all that may be visible. Multiple visible scrollspy targets at the same time may cause some issues.

Item 3-2

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Keep in mind that the JavaScript plugin tries to pick the right element among all that may be visible. Multiple visible scrollspy targets at the same time may cause some issues.

```html

Item 1

...

Item 1-1

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Item 1-2

...

Item 2

...

Item 3

...

Item 3-1

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Item 3-2

...

``` ### List group Scrollspy also works with `.list-group`s. Scroll the area next to the list group and watch the active class change.

Item 1

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Item 2

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Item 3

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Item 4

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

```html
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4

Item 1

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Item 2

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Item 3

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Item 4

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``` ### Simple anchors Scrollspy is not limited to nav components and list groups, so it will work on any `` anchor elements in the current document. Scroll the area and watch the `.active` class change.
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5

Item 1

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Item 2

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Item 3

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Item 4

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

Item 5

This is some placeholder content for the scrollspy page. Note that as you scroll down the page, the appropriate navigation link is highlighted. It's repeated throughout the component example. We keep adding some more example copy here to emphasize the scrolling and highlighting.

```html
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5

Item 1

...

Item 2

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Item 3

...

Item 4

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Item 5

...

``` ## Usage ### Via data attributes To easily add scrollspy behavior to your topbar navigation, add `data-bs-spy="scroll"` to the element you want to spy on (most typically this would be the ``). Then add the `data-bs-target` attribute with the `id` or class name of the parent element of any Bootstrap `.nav` component. ```html ... ... ``` ### Via JavaScript ```js const scrollSpy = new bootstrap.ScrollSpy(document.body, { target: '#navbar-example' }) ``` ### Options {{< markdown >}} {{< partial "js-data-attributes.md" >}} {{< /markdown >}} {{< bs-table "table" >}} | Name | Type | Default | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `rootMargin` | string | `0px 0px -40%` | Intersection Observer [rootMargin](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/IntersectionObserver/rootMargin) valid units, when calculating scroll position. | | `smoothScroll` | boolean | `false` | Enables smooth scrolling when a user clicks on a link that refers to ScrollSpy observables. | | `target` | string \| jQuery object \| DOM element | | Specifies element to apply Scrollspy plugin. | {{< /bs-table >}} {{< callout warning >}} **Deprecated Options** Up until v5.1.3 we were using `offset` & `method` options, which are now deprecated and replaced by `rootMargin`. To keep backwards compatibility, we will continue to parse a given `offset` to `rootMargin`, but this feature will be removed in **v6**. {{< /callout >}} ### Methods {{< bs-table "table" >}} | Method | Description | | --- | --- | | `dispose` | Destroys an element's scrollspy. (Removes stored data on the DOM element) | | `getInstance` | *Static* method to get the scrollspy instance associated with a DOM element | | `getOrCreateInstance` | *Static* method to get the scrollspy instance associated with a DOM element, or to create a new one in case it wasn't initialized. | | `refresh` | When adding or removing elements in the DOM, you'll need to call the refresh method. | {{< /bs-table >}} Here's an example using the refresh method: ```js const dataSpyList = document.querySelectorAll('[data-bs-spy="scroll"]') dataSpyList.forEach(dataSpyEl => { bootstrap.ScrollSpy.getInstance(dataSpyEl).refresh() }) ``` ### Events {{< bs-table "table" >}} | Event | Description | | --- | --- | | `activate.bs.scrollspy` | This event fires on the scroll element whenever an anchor is activated by the scrollspy. | {{< /bs-table >}} ```js const firstScrollSpyEl = document.querySelector('[data-bs-spy="scroll"]') firstScrollSpyEl.addEventListener('activate.bs.scrollspy', () => { // do something... }) ```