Practical Guide to Infinite Scrolling in React Apps

What makes infinite scrolling so addictive? Learn how to build smooth, responsive infinite scroll features in React—plus when to use them, when not to, and how to keep performance and accessibility in check.

You scroll through content and suddenly realize time flew. That’s the pull of infinite scrolling — a technique that loads new content as you move down the page.

Why do so many apps rely on this pattern to keep users engaged?

This article breaks down infinite scrolling in React. You’ll see where it works well, where it may fall short, and how to build it the right way. Also, you’ll learn to manage common issues around performance, accessibility, and user experience.

With clear examples, practical tips, and clean code patterns, you’ll be ready to build smooth scrolling experiences across devices.

What is the meaning of infinite scrolling?

Infinite scrolling is a design pattern where content loads continuously as the user scrolls, without needing to navigate to a new page. It eliminates the need for page numbers or a next page button, enabling users to scroll for more content simply.

You’ll find it widely used on social media platforms, news sites, and e-commerce sites, where users expect a constant flow of updates or products. Instead of loading discrete pages, the app makes background requests to load more content as the user reaches the bottom of the page.

This diagram shows the user scrolling, triggering the app to request data, and dynamically appending it to the view. This is the core loop of infinite scrolling.

Why use infinite scrolling?

Infinite scrolling supports a more user-friendly interface by removing friction caused by multiple pages and reloads. It’s well-suited for mobile devices and apps where mobile users expect fast interactions and smooth transitions.

Examples of its use include:

• Social media feeds (Twitter, Instagram)

• News sites (BBC, CNN)

• Product listings on e-commerce sites

Benefits include:

It helps users continue browsing by delivering a continuous flow of content. Apps using infinite scrolling with integrated lazy loading keep performance optimized by fetching new content only when necessary.

When infinite scrolling can go wrong

Even though infinite scrolling simplifies navigation, it comes with several drawbacks that may negatively impact user experience.

Common drawbacks:

• Accessibility issues for screen readers and keyboard-only users

• Difficult to reach the previous page or locate specific content

• Can lose track of where you left off

• Content loading can overwhelm limited data plans

• Impacts Google Analytics tracking due to a lack of discrete pages

• Makes search results hard to bookmark or share

Example: A user searching for a recipe finds it on a page using infinite scrolling. Later, they can’t get back to the same location, since there’s no clear page number or URL fragment.

"Using Intersection Observer for infinite scroll in React creates a smoother experience with better performance. It's a lightweight alternative to scroll event listeners and works great with functional components."

Source: LinkedIn

Best practices for infinite scrolling in React

1. Use Intersection Observer API

React’s useEffect combined with the IntersectionObserver can detect when the user reaches the bottom of the content. This allows you to trigger new content loads dynamically.

Example Code:

Copy
1useEffect(() => {
2  const observer = new IntersectionObserver(entries => {
3    if (entries[0].isIntersecting) {
4      loadMoreContent(); // Function to request data
5    }
6  });
7
8  if (bottomRef.current) {
9    observer.observe(bottomRef.current);
10  }
11
12  return () => observer.disconnect();
13}, []);

This is lightweight and doesn’t block content loading on scroll.

2. Integrate fallback: load more button

While endless scrolling is intuitive, offering a load more button helps keyboard-only users and improves accessibility.

Copy
1<button onClick={loadMoreContent}>Load More</button>

Use this as a backup when new content doesn't auto-load or the user scrolls too quickly.

3. Use integrated pagination

Keep discrete pages behind the scenes while delivering infinite scrolling with integrated pagination. This helps with search engine crawlers, Google Analytics, and bookmarking.

Example: Use URL fragments like ?page=4 even during continuous flow, so users and bots can return to specific page views.

4. Debounce and throttle scroll events

To avoid performance hits from content loading too frequently, debounce the API calls.

Copy
1const debounce = (func, delay) => {
2  let timer;
3  return (...args) => {
4    clearTimeout(timer);
5    timer = setTimeout(() => func(...args), delay);
6  };
7};

This ensures smoother scrolling and avoids overloading the server.

5. Handle edge cases gracefully

• When all the content is loaded, stop requests

• Show loading indicators

• Provide easy access to jump to the top

When to avoid infinite scrolling

While infinite scrolling is great for discovery-based experiences, it doesn’t suit task-oriented workflows.

Avoid it when:

• Users need to compare items across different pages

• Content must be easily shareable via page numbers

• Keyboard-only users make up a large portion of your audience

• Screen readers must have consistent, navigable landmarks

Example: An academic journal site or product comparison site benefits more from traditional pagination.

Alternatives to infinite scrolling

Build Better with Smart Infinite Scrolling in React

Implementing infinite scrolling in React directly tackles user friction caused by slow navigation, broken experiences across multiple devices, and overwhelming page reloads. By loading content as the user scrolls, developers can reduce bounce rates, improve user experience, and keep users engaged in a continuous flow of content.

This solution fits the needs of modern apps and websites, especially in an era where mobile users, fast interactions, and dynamic content define the online experience. With smart choices like lazy loading, load more buttons, and integrated pagination, you can meet accessibility, performance, and engagement goals without compromise.

Start building user-friendly, high-performance React apps by applying these infinite scrolling strategies now. Your users, metrics, and business will thank you.