Pagination vs Infinite Scroll
"No end in sight" or "you can go back"
My list is long. Paginate or infinite scroll?
Comparison table
| Pattern | User control | Linkable / shareable | SEO friendly | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pagination分页 | Yes (user turns pages) | Yes (?page=2) | Yes | Search results, orders, admin panels |
| Infinite Scroll无限滚动 | No (loads automatically) | No | Poor | Social feeds, inspiration, news |
← Swipe to see the full table
The demos, side by side
Pagination
分页Viewing results on page 3
48 pages · 20 per page
How to decide: When people need to go back and find something
Infinite Scroll
无限滚动Item 1
3 min ago
Item 2
3 min ago
Item 3
3 min ago
Item 4
3 min ago
Item 5
3 min ago
Item 6
3 min ago
How to decide: Exploratory content meant for casual browsing
Decision rule
- users will want to return to "page N" or share a specific pageuse Pagination
- the content is endless browsing with no goal (social, inspiration)use Infinite Scroll
- you want endless browsing but not a broken back buttona Load More button is the middle ground
Infinite scroll is not a fancier pagination. It buys that continuous feeling by losing "I know where I am". If content is structured and people need to find things, paginate.