jQuery Script Blog

10 Best Sticky Header Navigation Systems In JavaScript (2023 Update)

by jQueryScript,
sticky navigation

What Is Sticky Navigation

Sticky navigation (navbar, header navigation) is a modern site navigation design concept to improve the navigation experience on your long web page.

A sticky header navigation system will be always be fixed on then top no matter how your visitors scroll down or up the web page.

Sticky Navigation In Pure CSS

The simplest way to implement a sticky navigation on your webpage is to using the CSS position: sticky propery, which can be used to position the navigation based on the user's scroll position.

.navbar {
  position: -webkit-sticky; /* Safari */
  position: sticky;
  top: 0;
}

However, if you'd like apply more features (e.g. shrink effects, responsiveness, dropdown sub-menus, etc) to the sticky navigation, you might need a jQuery or JavaScript plugin as shown below:

The Best Sticky Navigation Plugin

We all know how important it is to have a good site navigation. Your visitors can get around more easily and they can find the content they wish to see quick. A sticky header navigation is one of the most popular approaches to get that done, but you have to pick the right plugin for your website.

In this list, you'll find the 10 best and top downloaded jQuery and/or Vanilla JavaScript plugins to create advanced sticky header navigation for your websites. Enjoy.

Originally Published Oct 2019, updated Mar 09 2023

Table of contents:

jQuery Sticky Navigation Plugins:

jQuery Plugin For Sticky Top Navigation Menu - stickUp

A jQuery menu plugin that makes your navigation menu sticky at the top of your page when scrolling down the window. The plugin also provides a "One Pager" anchor functionality for your sticky navbar to let the user know what they are currently viewing on the page. By using CSS the sticky navigation menu item will be highlighted as it's correlating content is crolled in and out of view.

jQuery Plugin For Sticky Top Navigation Menu - stickUp

[Demo] [Download]

Fancy jQuery Sticky Navigation with CSS3 Animations - stickyNavbar.js

A dead simple jQuery plugin helps you set multiple element (header, navigation, sidebar) sticky at the top of the web page while scrolling. Comes with several useful options including top margin setting, auto show / hide on scroll and more.

Fancy jQuery Sticky Navigation with CSS3 Animations - stickyNavbar.js

[Demo] [Download]

jQuery Plugin For Creating Sticky Elements While Scrolling - stickUp2

A dead simple jQuery plugin helps you set multiple element (header, navigation, sidebar) sticky at the top of the web page while scrolling. Comes with several useful options including top margin setting, auto show / hide on scroll and more.

jQuery Plugin For Creating Sticky Elements While Scrolling - stickUp2

[Demo] [Download]

Medium Style Sticky Unveiled Navigation with jQuery

A Medium.com inspired jQuery sticky navigation that automatically disappears as you scroll down the web page. As you scroll up or reach the very bottom of the page, it reappears again.

Medium Style Sticky Unveiled Navigation with jQuery

[Demo] [Download]

jQuery Mailchimp-Like Animated Sticky Menu Plugin - StickyChimp

A simple jQuery plugin inspired by Mailchimp.com for creating a smart & animated navigation menu that stays at the top of your web page.

jQuery Mailchimp-Like Animated Sticky Menu Plugin - StickyChimp

[Demo] [Download]

Vanilla JavaScript Sticky Navigation Plugins:

Simplest Sticky Header Nav In JavaScript

A modern header navigation bar that sticks to the top of the webpage by using the CSS position: sticky property.

Simplest Sticky Header Nav In JavaScript

[Demo] [Download]

Smart Responsive Sticky Navbar In JavaScript

A smart responsive sticky navbar that automatically slides down and hides as you scroll down or up the webpage.

Smart Responsive Sticky Navbar In JavaScript

[Demo] [Download]

Apply Box Shadow To Sticky Navigation On Scroll

A pure CSS implementation of the drop-shadow effect, which appears below a header navigation bar when we start to scroll the page.

Apply Box Shadow To Sticky Navigation On Scroll

[Demo] [Download]

Sticky Navigation With ScrollSpy Using Intersection Observer API

A sticky on-page navigation (a.k.a table of contents) that automatically highlights the active menu items based on the visibility of their corresponding content sections within the document.

Sticky Navigation With ScrollSpy Using Intersection Observer API

[Demo] [Download]

Smart Fixed Top Navigation In Pure JavaScript

Just another JavaScript solution to create a smart site navigation that auto hides on scroll down and reveals itself again on scroll up.

Smart Fixed Top Navigation In Pure JavaScript

[Demo] [Download]

Conclusion:

Now, sticky header navigation is pretty commonplace when it comes to web design. That’s probably because it’s super easy to implement and gives a polished, professional look to your website.

If you’re not using a sticky header on your site (yet), we recommend you rethink your decision. We hope this list of best plugins helped you choose the one that is right for your use!

Looking for more jQuery plugins or JavaScript libraries to create awesome Sticky Header Navigation on the web & mobile? See jQuery Sticky Navigation and JavaScript Sticky Navigation sections for more details.

See also: