Intersection Observer

<wa-intersection-observer>

Since 2.0

stable

Tracks immediate child elements and fires events as they move in and out of view.

This component leverages the IntersectionObserver API to track when its direct children enter or leave a designated root element. The wa-intersect event fires whenever elements cross the visibility threshold.

Scroll to see the element intersect at 100% visibility

<div id="intersection__overview">
  <wa-intersection-observer threshold="1" intersect-class="visible">
    <div class="box"><wa-icon name="bulb"></wa-icon></div>
  </wa-intersection-observer>
</div>

<small>Scroll to see the element intersect at 100% visibility</small>

<style>
  /* Container styles */
  #intersection__overview {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    gap: 2rem;
    height: 300px;
    border: solid 2px var(--wa-color-surface-border);
    padding: 1rem;
    overflow-y: auto;

    /* Spacers to demonstrate scrolling */
    &::before {
      content: '';
      height: 260px;
      flex-shrink: 0;
    }

    &::after {
      content: '';
      height: 260px;
      flex-shrink: 0;
    }

    /* Box styles */
    .box {
      flex-shrink: 0;
      width: 120px;
      height: 120px;
      background-color: var(--wa-color-neutral-fill-normal);
      color: var(--wa-color-neutral-10);
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      margin-inline: auto;
      transition: all 50ms cubic-bezier(0.68, -0.55, 0.265, 1.55);

      wa-icon {
        font-size: 3rem;
        stroke-width: 1px;
      }

      &.visible {
        background-color: var(--wa-color-brand-60);
        color: white;
      }
    }

    + small {
      display: block;
      text-align: center;
      margin-block-start: 1rem;
    }
  }
</style>

Keep in mind that only direct children of the host element are monitored. Nested elements won't trigger intersection events.

Usage Examples Jump to heading

Adding Observable Content Jump to heading

The intersection observer tracks only its direct children. The component uses display: contents styling, which makes it seamless to integrate with flex and grid layouts from a parent container.

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column;">
  <wa-intersection-observer>
    <div class="box">Box 1</div>
    <div class="box">Box 2</div>
    <div class="box">Box 3</div>
  </wa-intersection-observer>
</div>

The component tracks elements as they enter and exit the root element (viewport by default) and emits the wa-intersect event on state changes. The event provides event.detail.entry, an IntersectionObserverEntry object with intersection details.

You can identify the triggering element through entry.target. Check entry.isIntersecting to determine if an element is entering or exiting the viewport.

observer.addEventListener('wa-intersect', event => {
  const entry = event.detail.entry;

  if (entry.isIntersecting) {
    console.log('Element entered viewport:', entry.target);
  } else {
    console.log('Element left viewport:', entry.target);
  }
});

Setting a Custom Root Element Jump to heading

You can observe intersections within a specific container by assigning the root attribute to the root element's ID. Apply rootMargin with the root-margin attribute to expand or contract the observation area.

<div id="scroll-container">
  <wa-intersection-observer root="scroll-container" root-margin="50px 0px"> ... </wa-intersection-observer>
</div>

Configuring Multiple Thresholds Jump to heading

Track different visibility percentages by providing multiple threshold values as a space-separated list.

<wa-intersection-observer threshold="0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1"> ... </wa-intersection-observer>

Applying Classes on Intersect Jump to heading

The intersect-class attribute automatically toggles the specified class on direct children when they become visible. This enables pure CSS styling without JavaScript event handlers.

  Fade In
Slide In
Scale & Rotate
Bounce

Scroll to see elements transition at 50% visibility

<div id="intersection__classes">
  <wa-intersection-observer threshold="0.5" intersect-class="visible" root="intersection__classes">
    <div class="box fade">Fade In</div>
    <div class="box slide">Slide In</div>
    <div class="box scale">Scale & Rotate</div>
    <div class="box bounce">Bounce</div>
  </wa-intersection-observer>
</div>

<small>Scroll to see elements transition at 50% visibility</small>

<style>
  /* Container styles */
  #intersection__classes {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    gap: 2rem;
    height: 300px;
    border: solid 2px var(--wa-color-surface-border);
    padding: 1rem;
    overflow-y: auto;

    /* Spacers to demonstrate scrolling */
    &::before {
      content: '';
      height: 260px;
      flex-shrink: 0;
    }

    &::after {
      content: '';
      height: 260px;
      flex-shrink: 0;
    }

    + small {
      display: block;
      text-align: center;
      margin-block-start: 1rem;
    }

    /* Shared box styles */
    .box {
      flex-shrink: 0;
      width: 120px;
      height: 120px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      text-align: center;
      color: white;
      opacity: 0;
      padding: 2rem;
      margin-inline: auto;

      /* Fade */
      &.fade {
        background: var(--wa-color-brand-fill-loud);
        color: var(--wa-color-brand-on-loud);
        transform: translateY(30px);
        transition: all 0.6s ease;

        &.visible {
          opacity: 1;
          transform: translateY(0);
        }
      }

      /* Slide */
      &.slide {
        background: var(--wa-color-brand-fill-loud);
        color: var(--wa-color-brand-on-loud);
        transform: translateX(-50px);
        transition: all 0.5s ease;

        &.visible {
          opacity: 1;
          transform: translateX(0);
        }
      }

      /* Scale */
      &.scale {
        background: var(--wa-color-brand-fill-loud);
        color: var(--wa-color-brand-on-loud);
        transform: scale(0.6) rotate(-15deg);
        transition: all 0.7s cubic-bezier(0.175, 0.885, 0.32, 1.275);

        &.visible {
          opacity: 1;
          transform: scale(1) rotate(0deg);
        }
      }

      /* Bounce In and Out */
      &.bounce {
        background: var(--wa-color-brand-fill-loud);
        color: var(--wa-color-brand-on-loud);
        opacity: 0;
        transform: scale(0.8);
        transition: none;

        &.visible {
          opacity: 1;
          transform: scale(1);
          animation: bounceIn 0.8s cubic-bezier(0.68, -0.55, 0.265, 1.55) forwards;
        }

        &:not(.visible) {
          animation: bounceOut 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.68, -0.55, 0.265, 1.55) forwards;
        }
      }
    }
  }

  @keyframes bounceIn {
    0% {
      transform: scale(0.8);
    }
    40% {
      transform: scale(1.08);
    }
    65% {
      transform: scale(0.98);
    }
    80% {
      transform: scale(1.02);
    }
    90% {
      transform: scale(0.99);
    }
    100% {
      transform: scale(1);
    }
  }

  @keyframes bounceOut {
    0% {
      transform: scale(1);
      opacity: 1;
    }
    20% {
      transform: scale(1.02);
      opacity: 1;
    }
    40% {
      transform: scale(0.98);
      opacity: 0.8;
    }
    60% {
      transform: scale(1.05);
      opacity: 0.6;
    }
    80% {
      transform: scale(0.95);
      opacity: 0.3;
    }
    100% {
      transform: scale(0.8);
      opacity: 0;
    }
  }
</style>

Slots Jump to heading

Learn more about using slots.

Name	Description
(default)	Elements to track. Only immediate children of the host are monitored.

Attributes & Properties Jump to heading

Learn more about attributes and properties.

Name	Description	Reflects
`root` `root`	Element ID to define the viewport boundaries for tracked targets. Type `string \| null` Default `null`
`rootMargin` `root-margin`	Offset space around the root boundary. Accepts values like CSS margin syntax. Type `string` Default `'0px'`
`threshold` `threshold`	One or more space-separated values representing visibility percentages that trigger the observer callback. Type `string` Default `'0'`
`intersectClass` `intersect-class`	CSS class applied to elements during intersection. Automatically removed when elements leave the viewport, enabling pure CSS styling based on visibility state. Type `string` Default `''`
`once` `once`	If enabled, observation ceases after initial intersection. Type `boolean` Default `false`
`disabled` `disabled`	Deactivates the intersection observer functionality. Type `boolean` Default `false`

Events Jump to heading

Learn more about events.

Name	Description
`wa-intersect`	Fired when a tracked element begins or ceases intersecting.

Importing Jump to heading

Autoloading components via projects is the recommended way to import components. If you prefer to do it manually, use one of the following code snippets.

CDN

npm

React

Let your project code do the work! Sign up for free to use a project with your very own CDN — it's the fastest and easiest way to use Web Awesome.

To manually import this component from NPM, use the following code.

import '@awesome.me/webawesome/dist/components/intersection-observer/intersection-observer.js';

To manually import this component from React, use the following code.

import WaIntersectionObserver from '@awesome.me/webawesome/dist/react/intersection-observer';

Need a hand?

Report a bug

Ask for help

Getting Started

Resources

Components

Style Utilities

Layout

Patterns

Theming

Design Tokens

Terms & Policies

Web Awesome

Intersection Observer

Usage Examples Jump to heading

Adding Observable Content Jump to heading

Setting a Custom Root Element Jump to heading

Configuring Multiple Thresholds Jump to heading

Applying Classes on Intersect Jump to heading

Slots Jump to heading

Attributes & Properties Jump to heading

Events Jump to heading

Importing Jump to heading

Getting Started

Resources

Components

Style Utilities

Layout

Patterns

Theming

Design Tokens

Terms & Policies

Web Awesome

Web Awesome Elsewhere

Intersection Observer

Usage Examples Jump to heading #

Adding Observable Content Jump to heading #

Setting a Custom Root Element Jump to heading #

Configuring Multiple Thresholds Jump to heading #

Applying Classes on Intersect Jump to heading #

Slots Jump to heading #

Attributes & Properties Jump to heading #

Events Jump to heading #

Importing Jump to heading #

Usage Examples Jump to heading

Adding Observable Content Jump to heading

Setting a Custom Root Element Jump to heading

Configuring Multiple Thresholds Jump to heading

Applying Classes on Intersect Jump to heading

Slots Jump to heading

Attributes & Properties Jump to heading

Events Jump to heading

Importing Jump to heading