Pagination

Overview

Pagination divides large content collections into manageable chunks or pages. Users navigate through data sets, search results, or product listings without getting overwhelmed by too much information at once.

Pagination works well, but consider alternatives like infinite scroll or "Load More" buttons for certain content types. Your choice between pagination and infinite scroll depends on content nature, user behavior, and interface goals.

Use Cases

When to use:

Use pagination when content needs structured, progressive loading for smoother user experience and better performance.

Pagination helps users navigate large information sets without getting overwhelmed.

Common scenarios include:

• Content lists need browsing (search results, blog archives, product listings)
• Page performance improves by loading smaller content segments
• User clarity increases when large data sets become easier to navigate
• Sequential content requires navigation (multi-page tutorials or articles)

When not to use:

• All content fits better on a single page (short lists or summaries)
• Infinite scroll or "load more" patterns suit the experience better
• Users need continuous comparison between items on different pages

Benefits

• Page loads faster by limiting content loaded at once
• Users stay oriented within large datasets
• Clear navigation cues guide through content
• Performance improves and server load drops
• Bookmarking and sharing specific pages becomes easier
• Users understand content scope (total pages/items)
• Goal-oriented tasks work better than with infinite scroll

Drawbacks

• Interrupts user flow – Users must click to navigate instead of scrolling continuously
• Complex navigation – Must handle "Previous," "Next," first, and last page controls
• Mobile challenges – Small pagination buttons are hard to tap on touchscreens
• SEO risks – Poor implementation creates duplicate content issues
• Reload delays – Full-page reloads slow the experience without dynamic updates

Anatomy

Component Structure

1. Container

• Wraps all pagination controls
• Manages layout and spacing
• Handles ARIA labeling and keyboard navigation

2. Previous Button

• Navigates to the preceding page
• Disabled on first page to show no previous content exists

3. Pagination Items

• Numbered buttons or links for each page
• Current page shows clearly (visual cues and ARIA attributes)
• Ellipsis ("…") appears for large page ranges

4. Next Button

• Navigates to the next page
• Disabled on last page to prevent further navigation

5. First & Last Page Buttons (Optional)

• Quick jumps to first and last pages
• Helpful for long pagination ranges

6. Ellipsis (Optional)

• Shows missing page numbers in large paginations
• Reduces clutter, keeps navigation clear

7. Visual States

• Default: Normal state with clear labels and clickable elements.
• Hover and Focus: Provides visual cues (underline, background change, or border) for interactive elements.
• Active: Indicates the currently selected page.
• Disabled: Non-interactive controls (e.g., previous on page 1, next on last page).
• Keyboard Focus: Ensures proper highlight states for accessibility.
• ARIA Live Updates: Announces page changes for screen readers.
• Loading Indicators (Optional): Shows progress when paginated content is being fetched asynchronously.

Summary of Components

Variations

1. Standard Pagination

The classic numbered page navigation with Previous/Next buttons.

When to use: General content lists, search results, tables

2. Infinite Pagination

Combines pagination with infinite scroll - loads new pages automatically but maintains page boundaries.

When to use: Social feeds, image galleries where users want continuous browsing

3. Load More Pagination

Shows a "Load More" button instead of page numbers, appending content to the current view.

When to use: Mobile interfaces, casual browsing experiences

4. Simple Previous/Next

Only shows Previous and Next buttons without page numbers.

When to use: Linear content like tutorials, wizards, or articles

5. Alphabetical/Range Pagination

Groups content by alphabetical ranges (A-C, D-F) or other categories.

When to use: Directories, glossaries, large catalogs

6. Mini Pagination

Compact version showing limited page numbers (e.g., 1...5, 6, 7...20).

When to use: Limited space, mobile views, secondary navigation

7. Hybrid Pagination

Combines page numbers with a dropdown to jump to any page.

When to use: Large datasets where users need both sequential and random access

Examples

Basic Pagination

This example demonstrates:

• Page number navigation with Previous/Next buttons
• Current page highlighting
• Disabled states for first/last pages
• Keyboard navigation support
• ARIA labels for accessibility
• Responsive design for mobile
• Smooth transitions between pages

Basic Implementation

<!-- Pagination Container -->
<nav class="pagination" aria-label="Pagination Navigation">
  <!-- Previous Button -->
  <button
    type="button"
    class="pagination-prev"
    aria-label="Previous page"
    disabled
  >
    Previous
  </button>

  <!-- Pagination Items -->
  <ul class="pagination-list">
    <li>
      <button
        type="button"
        class="pagination-item"
        aria-label="Page 1"
        aria-current="page"
      >
        1
      </button>
    </li>
    <li>
      <button type="button" class="pagination-item" aria-label="Page 2">
        2
      </button>
    </li>
    <li>
      <button type="button" class="pagination-item" aria-label="Page 3">
        3
      </button>
    </li>
    <!-- Ellipsis for additional pages, if needed -->
    <li><span class="pagination-ellipsis">…</span></li>
    <li>
      <button type="button" class="pagination-item" aria-label="Page 10">
        10
      </button>
    </li>
  </ul>

  <!-- Next Button -->
  <button type="button" class="pagination-next" aria-label="Next page">
    Next
  </button>
</nav>

Best Practices

Content

Do's ✅

• Pick clear, concise labels for navigation controls
• Give context ("Page 5 of 20")
• Use ellipsis (...) for large page ranges
• Check if pagination or infinite scroll fits your use case and content type better
• Display loading indicators when fetching new content
• Update URLs to reflect current page numbers

Don'ts ❌

• Skip cluttering the interface with excessive pagination controls
• Never paginate short lists that fit on one page
• Avoid ambiguous labels that confuse users
• Stop loading unnecessary data or assets irrelevant to the current page

Accessibility

Do's ✅

• Wrap pagination controls with semantic <nav> element
• Add aria-label="Pagination" or similar for screen readers
• Make each page link focusable with clear labels
• Set logical keyboard navigation order (Tab, Enter, Arrow keys)
• Mark current page with aria-current="page"
• Auto-scroll to top of content area when loading new pages (use smooth scrolling to avoid jarring jumps)
• Move focus to main content or first item after loading
• Announce loading status and page changes with ARIA live regions (e.g.,
  Loading page 3…
  ) for screen readers
• Include "Skip to content" link that shows on focus for keyboard users

Don'ts ❌

• Never rely only on color for current page; add text or icons too
• Skip complex pagination structures that confuse keyboard and assistive tech users
• Always change scroll position when loading new page content
• Don't set focus to pagination controls after page load – it disorients users

Visual Design

Do's ✅

• Keep spacing, typography, and colors consistent for clarity
• Separate pagination items visually
• Make active state stand out
• Add subtle hover animations to signal interactivity
• Design for scale with many pages (abbreviate: 1k, 2k for 1000, 2000)
• Build efficient server-side pagination to cut load times
• Apply smooth scrolling when auto-moving to new content top

Don'ts ❌

• Never make interactive elements too small for mobile tapping
• Skip decorative styles that hurt content readability
• Avoid blocking entire page interaction during loading unless necessary
• Don't add separator elements to the DOM; render separators with CSS pseudo-elements instead

Layout & Positioning

Do's ✅

• Place pagination controls logically (usually bottom of content listings)
• Maintain strong contrast between pagination controls and background
• Apply responsive design for usability across devices
• Try progressive loading for images and media
• Keep scroll position when updating only part of the page (single-page apps)

Don'ts ❌

• Keep pagination close to content to avoid excessive scrolling
• Skip fixed positioning that blocks content on small screens
• Preserve browser history functionality with custom pagination

Common Mistakes & Anti-Patterns 🚫

No Indication of Total Pages

The Problem: Users can't gauge content size or their progress.

How to Fix It: Show total page count or items ("Page 3 of 12" or "Showing 21-30 of 120 items").

Missing Current Page Highlight

The Problem: Users lose track of their current page, especially after scrolling.

How to Fix It: Distinguish the active page with contrasting colors, borders, or size.

Tiny Click Targets

The Problem: Page numbers and controls are too small for easy clicking, especially on mobile.

How to Fix It: Use minimum 44x44px touch targets with adequate spacing between elements.

No Keyboard Navigation

The Problem: Pagination works only with mouse/touch, locking out keyboard users.

How to Fix It: Add full keyboard support with Tab navigation and Enter/Space activation.

Jumping to Top Without Warning

The Problem: Page changes trigger unexpected scroll to top, disorienting users.

How to Fix It: Keep scroll position or smoothly animate to top with clear indication. Use scroll-behavior: smooth or JavaScript smooth scrolling, and announce page changes via ARIA live regions to inform users of the navigation change.

Poor Mobile Adaptation

The Problem: Desktop pagination with many page numbers fails on mobile.

How to Fix It: Apply responsive design showing fewer page numbers on smaller screens.

Micro-Interactions & Animations

Pagination needs these specific, purpose-driven animations:

• Button Hover Animation:

  • Effect: Scale button to 1.05× on hover and smoothly transition background color
  • Timing: 200ms ease transition for responsive feel without delay

• Focus State Animation:

  • Effect: Button focus (keyboard or pointer) animates clear visual indicator—crisp outline or subtle drop-shadow for active state
  • Timing: 200ms effect creates smooth visual cue

• Active (Click) Animation:

  • Effect: Clicking triggers brief confirmation animation (quick pulse or scale to 1.1×) signaling selection
  • Timing: 150–200ms completion gives immediate feedback without interrupting flow

• Content Transition (When Applicable):

  • Effect: Pagination triggering content updates (common in SPAs) uses fade transition—outgoing fades out, incoming fades in
  • Timing: 250ms opacity transition ensures smooth change without distraction

• Reduced Motion Consideration:

  • Implementation: Check user motion preferences (prefers-reduced-motion media query) and disable or minimize animations for accessibility

These animations give just enough feedback to guide interactions and enhance pagination feel without overwhelming the interface.

Tracking

Pagination tracking measures how users navigate content, their preference for sequential clicking versus skipping ahead, and whether they reach deeper pages. Analyzing pagination behavior optimizes user experience and improves content discoverability.

Key Tracking Points

Pagination interactions provide valuable user behavior insights. Key events to track:

Common Payload Contract

All pagination events should include these core properties for consistent analysis:

{
  "component_id": "search_results",
  "current_page": 3,
  "total_pages": 10
}

Event Payload Structure

For consistent tracking, use this event format:

{
  "event": "pagination.page_click",
  "properties": {
    "pagination_id": "search_results",
    "clicked_page": 4,
    "total_pages": 10,
    "interaction_type": "click"
  }
}

Key Metrics to Analyze

After setting up tracking, these metrics provide actionable insights:

• Next Page Click Rate → Percentage of users who click the "Next" button.
• Page Jump Rate → Percentage of users who select a specific page instead of clicking "Next."
• Backward Navigation Rate → Percentage of users who click "Previous" or navigate back to earlier pages.
• Deep Pagination Engagement → How far users go into paginated content (e.g., do they go past page 3?).
• First vs. Last Page Access Rate → How often users jump to the first or last page.
• Infinite Scroll vs. Pagination Click Rate → If both options exist, measures preference for clicking pagination vs. scrolling to load more.

Insights & Optimization Based on Tracking

Tracking data analysis optimizes the pagination experience:

• 🚨 Low Next Page Click Rate? → Users don't find pagination useful or engaging. Fix: Improve results per page, strengthen visual cues, or test infinite scrolling.

• ⏳ High Page Jump Rate? → Users prefer skipping ahead over sequential navigation. Fix: Add better filtering options or let users select results per page.

• 🔄 Frequent Backward Navigation? → Users miss important content on previous pages. Fix: Improve sorting and relevance on earlier pages.

• 🔁 Low Deep Pagination Engagement? → Users rarely go past the first few pages. Fix: Don't bury important content deep or test loading more items per page.

• ⚙️ High Infinite Scroll Usage vs. Clicks? → Users prefer scrolling over clicking pagination. Fix: Test infinite scrolling as default but check performance and usability impact.

Continuous monitoring of these metrics refines pagination usability, helping users navigate content without frustration.

Localization

{
  "pagination": {
    "next_page": {
      "label": "Next",
      "aria_label": "Go to the next page"
    },
    "previous_page": {
      "label": "Previous",
      "aria_label": "Go to the previous page"
    },
    "page_number": {
      "aria_label": "Page {page_number}"
    },
    "first_page": {
      "label": "First",
      "aria_label": "Go to the first page"
    },
    "last_page": {
      "label": "Last",
      "aria_label": "Go to the last page"
    }
  }
}

Accessibility

ARIA Attributes

Required ARIA Attributes:

• The container should use role="navigation" with an appropriate aria-label (e.g., "Pagination Navigation").
• Each pagination item should include aria-labels indicating the respective page number.
• Indicate the current page using aria-current="page".

Keyboard Interaction Pattern

The following table outlines the standard keyboard interactions for pagination components:

Testing Guidelines

Functional Testing

Should ✓

• Verify that the pagination controls render correctly.
• Ensure clicking the Previous and Next buttons navigates to the correct pages.
• Test that the active state updates when navigating through pages.
• Confirm that disabled states (on the first or last page) are correctly implemented.

Accessibility Testing

Should ✓

• Validate that the pagination container has role="navigation" and an appropriate aria-label.
• Confirm each pagination item is focusable and properly labeled.
• Ensure keyboard navigation works seamlessly with the pagination controls.
• Test that screen readers correctly announce the current page.

Visual Testing

Should ✓

• Confirm that pagination controls adapt gracefully to different screen sizes.
• Verify that active and hover states are visually distinct.
• Check that pagination does not overlap or interfere with other page elements.

Performance Testing

Should ✓

• Ensure that pagination does not cause significant loading delays.
• Validate that new page content loads efficiently when navigating.

Browser Support

Performance Metrics

Target Metrics

Response Times:

• Page change initiation: < 100ms after click
• Content load start: < 200ms
• Full page render: < 1000ms (ideal), < 2000ms (acceptable)
• Animation duration: 200-300ms for transitions

Data Loading:

• Prefetch strategy: Load adjacent pages in background
• Cache duration: 5 minutes for recently viewed pages
• Request size: < 50KB per page of data
• Concurrent requests: Maximum 2 prefetch requests

Rendering Performance:

• First Contentful Paint: < 500ms
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): CLS < 0.1
• Time to Interactive: < 1500ms
• Frame rate: 60fps during animations

Mobile Optimization:

• Touch response: < 100ms feedback
• Bandwidth usage: Minimize with compression
• Battery impact: Avoid continuous animations
• Memory footprint: < 10MB for pagination component

SEO Considerations

• Use semantic HTML (e.g., <nav> and lists) to help search engines understand your site structure.
• Ensure that pagination links are crawlable, improving site indexing.
• Consider implementing progressive loading for better performance and user experience.
• Use unique URL parameters for each page (e.g., /products?page=2)
• Implement rel="prev" and rel="next" link tags for search engines
• Avoid duplicate content issues with proper canonical tags

Design Tokens

These design tokens follow the Design Tokens Format specification and can be used with various token transformation tools to generate platform-specific variables.

Pagination Tokens in DTF Format

{
  "$schema": "https://design-tokens.org/schema.json",
  "pagination": {
    "container": {
      "padding": { "value": "1rem", "type": "dimension" },
      "background": { "value": "{color.white}", "type": "color" }
    },
    "item": {
      "size": { "value": "2rem", "type": "dimension" },
      "fontSize": { "value": "1rem", "type": "fontSize" },
      "color": { "value": "{color.text}", "type": "color" },
      "activeColor": { "value": "{color.primary}", "type": "color" }
    },
    "button": {
      "padding": { "value": "0.5rem 1rem", "type": "dimension" },
      "borderRadius": { "value": "0.25rem", "type": "dimension" }
    }
  }
}

FAQ

Related Patterns

Resources

Libraries & Frameworks

React Components

• React Paginate – A ReactJS component to render a pagination
• RC Pagination – React pagination component
• Ant Design Pagination – Enterprise-class pagination component

Vue Components

• Vue Pagination 2 – Vue.js 2 pagination component
• Vuetify Pagination – Material Design pagination component

Vanilla JavaScript

• Pagination.js – A jQuery plugin for pagination
• SimplePagination.js – Simple and lightweight pagination plugin

Articles

• Pagination Design Pattern

Implementation Guides

• React Pagination Tutorial
• Vue.js Pagination Component
• Accessible Pagination with ARIA