What is Parallax?

Parallax is a visual effect where background elements move slower than foreground elements when scrolling, creating a sense of depth. Makes 2D interfaces feel three-dimensional. Popular in marketing sites, storytelling pages, and hero sections. Can be subtle (slight speed difference) or dramatic (extreme layering).

When Should You Use This?

Use parallax for marketing landing pages, portfolio sites, product launches, or storytelling experiences where visual wow-factor matters. Great for hero sections, feature showcases, or case studies. Keep it subtle—too much parallax is nauseating. Don't use on content-heavy sites (docs, dashboards, SaaS apps) where readability matters more. Always respect prefers-reduced-motion for accessibility.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• •Overusing it—parallax everywhere is distracting and hurts performance
• •Breaking scroll behavior—users expect scroll to move content predictably
• •Mobile performance—parallax is CPU-intensive; disable or simplify on mobile
• •Ignoring accessibility—motion sickness is real; disable for prefers-reduced-motion users
• •Using on text-heavy pages—makes reading harder; save it for visual/marketing content

Real-World Examples

• •Apple product pages—subtle parallax in hero sections, backgrounds move slower
• •Stripe Press—parallax book covers create depth when scrolling through catalog
• •Firewatch game site—iconic parallax layers create depth in forest scene
• •Spotify Wrapped—parallax effects make annual review feel immersive