CSS scroll-padding-inline-start Property

Description

The scroll-padding-inline-start CSS property is used to specify the padding space that should be applied on the inline-start side (left side in left-to-right writing modes like English) of a scroll container when it comes to scrolling. It is particularly useful in situations where content is dynamically added or removed within a scrollable element. By setting this property, you can ensure that the content doesn't get hidden or partially obscured by the scrollbars, helping to maintain a visually pleasing and user-friendly scrolling experience.

Initial value: auto
Applies to: scroll containers
Inherited: no
Computed value: as specified
Animatable: by computed value type
JavaScript syntax: object.style.scrollPaddingInlineStart

Interactive Demo

scroll-padding-inline-start: 0;

scroll-padding-inline-start: 20px;

scroll-padding-inline-start: 2em;

Scroll »

Syntax

scroll-padding-inline-start: auto | &tl;length-percentage [0,∞]>

Values

autoThe offset is determined by the user agent. This will generally be 0px, but a user agent is able to detect and do something else if a non-zero value is more appropriate.
&tl;length-percentage>An inwards offset from the corresponding edge of the scrollport, as a valid length or a percentage.

Example

HTML

<div id="container">

  <div class="blue"></div>

  <div class="green"></div>

  <div class="blue"></div>

  <div class="green"></div>

  <div class="blue"></div>

  <div class="green"></div>

  <div class="blue"></div>

</div>

CSS

#container {
  width: 60%;
  aspect-ratio: 3/2;
  padding: 0 40px;
  margin: auto;
  border: solid black 2px;
  overflow-x: scroll;
  overflow-y: hidden;
  white-space: nowrap;
  scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
  scroll-padding-inline-start: 20px;
}

.blue {
  background-color: lightblue;
  height: 95%;
  aspect-ratio: 5/3;
}

.green {
  background-color: lightgreen;
  height: 80%;
  aspect-ratio: 5/4;
}

.blue, .green {
  display: inline-block;
  margin: 2px;
  scroll-snap-align: none start;
}

Result

Editor