Editing Scrollbar (section)

== Limitations and issues ==
Computer literate users are often familiar with scrollbars, but those with limited knowledge may not intuitively understand them, especially given more recent variations, without assistance.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Berstis|first1=Viktors|last2=James|first2=Donald A.|last3=Radhakrishnan|first3=Sockalinga|last4=Xavier|first4=James|title=Replacement of traditional scroll bar with a "more" bar|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5896132|website=Google Patents}}</ref> Regardless of literacy, multiple issues can be found across various types of scrollbars and their interactions.
In terms of design, if the window size is already small, the visible content area will be further reduced by the presence of a scrollbar.<ref name="mishra" /> While some more recent disappearing scrollbars help mitigate this problem, more traditional ones do not avoid it, especially when there are both horizontal and vertical bars present.

In terms of use, many common issues have to do with accuracy. Mapping between the scrollbar and display is linear, so accuracy of use is relative to the size of the content.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bates|first1=Cary L.|last2=Day|first2=Paul R.|title=Computer system, user interface component and method utilizing non-linear scroll bar|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6157381|website=Google Patents}}</ref> Navigation through a smaller document is then simpler than navigation through a larger document. This also means that all portions of a document are emphasized equally, and importance of each portion is not recognized by use of the scrollbar.

There is not often an indication of where in the content a scroll has reached unless the scrolling action is stopped to view the content. This makes it difficult regardless of whether or not the user knows what they are looking for or the general organization of the content. Those that do have an indicator are limited by the predetermined settings in visibility, amount, and style.<ref name="RowleyPat" />
If attempting to scroll while performing an action such as highlighting, the scroll amount may not correspond to the desired amount, overshooting or prompting the user to reposition multiple times.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Holehan|first1=Steven D.|title=Computer keyboard scroll bar control|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6043809|website=Google Patents}}</ref> Overshooting can also occur when attempting to position near the top or the bottom of a single page within a larger set. An attempted small scroll adjustment by the user may result in a larger one as the scrolling activates an automatic action jumping to the next page.<ref name="BatesPat" />