A ChatGPT Post About a Solution to Sticky Headers vs. Page Down Key

Write a blog post about how websites on desktop break the use of the page down key by using sticky headers, and how it could be improved by moving the important parts of the header, like the logo and a menu button, into the gutter of the page when the user scrolls down. When the user clicked the menu button, the header could re-show itself.

As users scroll through a website, they often rely on the "page down" key to quickly navigate through the content. However, some websites have implemented sticky headers that break this functionality, making it more difficult for users to navigate the page. In this blog post, we'll explore how this issue arises and propose a potential solution.

Sticky headers are a design feature where a website's header, typically containing a logo and navigation menu, stays fixed at the top of the page as the user scrolls down. This can be a useful feature, as it allows users to quickly access important information regardless of where they are on the page. However, it can also be problematic when it interferes with the user's ability to navigate the page using the "page down" key.

When a user presses the "page down" key, they expect to see the next section of content on the page. However, if a sticky header is present, it will often cover up a significant portion of that content, making it difficult or impossible to read. This can be frustrating for users, as they may need to scroll back up to see the content that was hidden by the header.

To solve this problem, we propose moving the important parts of the header, such as the logo and a menu button, into the gutter of the page when the user scrolls down. The gutter is the space between the main content of the page and the browser's scrollbar. By moving the header into the gutter, we can ensure that it doesn't interfere with the user's ability to navigate the page using the "page down" key.

When the user clicks the menu button, the header could re-show itself, allowing the user to access the navigation menu as they normally would. This approach would allow us to maintain the benefits of a sticky header while avoiding the drawbacks.

In addition to improving the user experience, this approach would also have benefits for website owners. By moving the header into the gutter, we can reduce the amount of vertical space it takes up on the page, allowing for more content to be displayed above the fold. This can be especially important for websites that rely on advertising revenue, as it allows for more ads to be displayed to users without interfering with the user experience.

In conclusion, while sticky headers can be a useful design feature, they can also interfere with the user's ability to navigate the page using the "page down" key. By moving the important parts of the header into the gutter of the page and re-showing it when the user clicks the menu button, we can maintain the benefits of a sticky header while improving the user experience and allowing for more content to be displayed above the fold.

Add a part about how browsers scroll smoothly, and when the text that the user has just read gets covered by the sticky header, the reader's eye "gets lost"

Another issue that arises with sticky headers is related to the way browsers scroll smoothly. When the user presses the "page down" key or scrolls down using the scrollbar, the browser scrolls smoothly, meaning that the content on the page gradually moves up as the user scrolls down. This smooth scrolling can be visually pleasing and can help users keep their place on the page.

However, when the text that the user has just read gets covered by the sticky header, the reader's eye "gets lost," as they may lose their place on the page. This can be especially frustrating when the user is reading a long article or trying to find specific information on the page.

By moving the important parts of the header into the gutter of the page, we can avoid this issue and ensure that the user's eye doesn't get lost when scrolling down the page. This allows users to maintain their place on the page and navigate smoothly through the content without interruption.

In conclusion, while sticky headers can be a useful design feature, they can also interfere with the user's ability to maintain their place on the page when scrolling. By moving the header into the gutter of the page, we can avoid this issue and improve the user experience.