Autoscroll

Autoscroll refers to the automatic advancement of content within a window or reading area without ongoing user input. It changes the visible portion of the page or document by translating the scroll position over time, either at a fixed rate or with speed adjustments.

Most autoscroll implementations provide controls to start, pause, adjust speed, and stop. The mechanism typically updates the scroll position at regular intervals or via a smooth animation loop, and can respond to user interactions by pausing or reversing direction. In web applications, autoscroll is often implemented by modifying the scrollTop property or using a scrolling container, driven by timers or animation frames. In specialized software such as teleprompters or e-book readers, autoscroll may be designed to match spoken or reading pace.

Common use cases include reading long articles, transcripts, or forums where hands-free navigation is desirable; watching live streams with chat, where the view should progress automatically; and presenting materials where a lecturer or presenter prefers the content to advance automatically.

Autoscroll can improve accessibility for some users, by reducing manual input, but it can also cause issues—motion sensitivity, disorientation, or interference with text selection and form inputs. It may also drift out of alignment with dynamic content or captions if the page layout changes while scrolling.

Related concepts include continuous scrolling, auto-scrolling in teleprompters, and traditional scrolling. Implementations may differ across platforms, but the core idea remains the same: move the viewport without requiring direct scroll input.