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Why does my IntersectionObserver callback trigger multiple times when scrolling fast?
Asked on Dec 23, 2025
Answer
The IntersectionObserver callback can trigger multiple times due to rapid changes in the observed element's visibility during fast scrolling. This is expected behavior as the observer reports each intersection change.
<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {
entries.forEach(entry => {
if (entry.isIntersecting) {
console.log('Element is in view:', entry.target);
}
});
});
const targetElement = document.querySelector('#target');
observer.observe(targetElement);
<!-- END COPY / PASTE -->Additional Comment:
✅ Answered with JavaScript best practices.- The IntersectionObserver API is designed to notify you of visibility changes for observed elements.
- Fast scrolling can cause the observed element to enter and exit the viewport multiple times, triggering the callback each time.
- Consider debouncing or throttling your callback logic if you need to limit the number of times it executes.
- Use "entry.isIntersecting" to check if the element is currently in view.
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