Arch Linux

felipescotti

Member

Registered: 2023-04-22

Posts: 87

Archwiki weird scroll up behaviour in Librewolf/Firefox

Hello!

I just noticed that on the ArchWiki, when selecting/highlighting a text near the top it immediately scrolls all way up very fast.

I do use Librewolf, tried Firefox without extensions and it got the same behaviour.
Disabling smooth scrolling also didn't change anything.
I'm wondering if it is either a browser or wiki bug.

Cheers!

system72

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Registered: 2025-11-22

Posts: 572

Website

Re: Archwiki weird scroll up behaviour in Librewolf/Firefox

this happens with every mainstream browser on a plethora of sites. its not a bug

Last edited by system72 (2025-11-24 06:31:20)

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seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,085

Re: Archwiki weird scroll up behaviour in Librewolf/Firefox

this happens with every mainstream browser on a plethora of sites. its not a bug of wiki.archlinux.org

ftfy

likely happens because the browser miscalculates the the selected text position due to css complexities.
Simple mitigation would be to make sure there's nothing to select at the top (eg. fixing the top bar or so), but while not an uncommon design, that comes at the cost of losing that screen estate.

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felipescotti

Member

Registered: 2023-04-22

Posts: 87

Re: Archwiki weird scroll up behaviour in Librewolf/Firefox

this happens with every mainstream browser on a plethora of sites. its not a bug

Even though I tried to reproduce this on other websites but it just did not happen for me.

Thanks!

Last edited by felipescotti (2025-11-24 11:42:51)

felipescotti

Member

Registered: 2023-04-22

Posts: 87

Re: Archwiki weird scroll up behaviour in Librewolf/Firefox

this happens with every mainstream browser on a plethora of sites. its not a bug of wiki.archlinux.org

ftfy

likely happens because the browser miscalculates the the selected text position due to css complexities.
Simple mitigation would be to make sure there's nothing to select at the top (eg. fixing the top bar or so), but while not an uncommon design, that comes at the cost of losing that screen estate.

Good to know, but then I'm not sure if we are talking about the same behavior.
I have menubar at the top, then tabs, navigation and also bookmarks toolbar, fixed.

I tried to find a way to completely disable scroll while selecting text in about:config.
But nothing works, I guess that it could be something hardcoded.

Thanks!

Last edited by felipescotti (2025-11-24 12:07:36)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,085

Re: Archwiki weird scroll up behaviour in Librewolf/Firefox

I have menubar at the top, then tabs, navigation and also bookmarks toolbar, fixed.

It's only the webpage, the browser UI isn't relevant.

Even though I tried to reproduce this on other websites but it just did not happen for me.

It won't happen eg. on the bbs or most other archlinux pages, but will on pretty much every mediawiki and there's certainly more of this.
You need something where you can select text at the top of the viewport and that wildly™ re-arranges elements via css.
Every webpage that has a static header won't run into this (because that's not gonna scroll anywhere) nor is anything with a basic layout.

Just don't select text at the top of the viewport

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How to upload text · How to boot w/o GUI · Disable Windows Fast-Start! · Fix your xinitrc

felipescotti

Member

Registered: 2023-04-22

Posts: 87

Re: Archwiki weird scroll up behaviour in Librewolf/Firefox

It's only the webpage, the browser UI isn't relevant.

Shame on me, I misunderstood it as the browser's bars.

It won't happen eg. on the bbs or most other archlinux pages, but will on pretty much every mediawiki and there's certainly more of this.
You need something where you can select text at the top of the viewport and that wildly™ re-arranges elements via css.
Every webpage that has a static header won't run into this (because that's not gonna scroll anywhere) nor is anything with a basic layout.

Even though one of the websites that I tried to reproduce is Gentoo Wiki which does not have a fixed top bar (afaik) and also does not trigger that behavior.

Just don't select text at the top of the viewport

It triggers even about 5~6 lines (3cm) under the top, not only at the very top but yeap, I will have to loose the habit of highlight the text that I am reading

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 75,085

Re: Archwiki weird scroll up behaviour in Librewolf/Firefox

Even though one of the websites that I tried to reproduce is Gentoo Wiki which does not have a fixed top bar (afaik) and also does not trigger that behavior.

The static top-bar just prevents you from selecting something at the top of the scrollable viewport; the gentoo wiki has a linear layout.

It triggers even about 5~6 lines (3cm) under the top

At about that offset it starts to move for me, but the hectic jumping only occurs when I'm in the top or maybe second line from the edge.

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How to upload text · How to boot w/o GUI · Disable Windows Fast-Start! · Fix your xinitrc

felipescotti

Member

Registered: 2023-04-22

Posts: 87

Re: Archwiki weird scroll up behaviour in Librewolf/Firefox

The static top-bar just prevents you from selecting something at the top of the scrollable viewport; the gentoo wiki has a linear layout.

Got it!

At about that offset it starts to move for me, but the hectic jumping only occurs when I'm in the top or maybe second line from the edge.

That's correct, I get the same unexpected behavior.

Thanks for the clarification!

Last edited by felipescotti (2025-11-24 17:20:09)