Why does the right border of the first sticky column disappear when scrolling horizontally in my table?

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re frustrated because you’ve encountered a pesky issue with your sticky column. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many developers have stumbled upon this problem, and today, we’re going to tackle it head-on.

What’s causing the issue?

The problem arises when you have a table with a sticky column (usually the first column) and you scroll horizontally. For some reason, the right border of the sticky column disappears, leaving you with a visually unappealing table. But why does this happen?

The reason lies in how browsers handle sticky elements and table borders. When you make a table cell sticky, the browser creates a new stacking context for that element. This means that the sticky element is taken out of the normal document flow and placed on top of the other elements. However, this also means that the border of the sticky element is not rendered correctly, especially when scrolling horizontally.

Let’s see an example

Here’s an example of a table with a sticky first column:

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Sticky Column</th>
    <th>Non-Sticky Column 1</th>
    <th>Non-Sticky Column 2</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="position: sticky; left: 0;">Sticky Cell</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 1</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 2</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="position: sticky; left: 0;">Sticky Cell</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 1</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 2</td>
  </tr>
</table>

When you scroll horizontally, you’ll notice that the right border of the sticky column disappears. This is because the sticky element is taken out of the normal document flow, and its border is not rendered correctly.

Solutions to the problem

Don’t worry, there are a few solutions to this problem. Let’s explore them:

Solution 1: Add an extra column

One way to solve this issue is to add an extra column to your table and make it sticky as well. This extra column will serve as a “border” for your sticky column:

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Sticky Column</th>
    <th style="width: 1px;"></th>
    <th>Non-Sticky Column 1</th>
    <th>Non-Sticky Column 2</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="position: sticky; left: 0;">Sticky Cell</td>
    <td style="position: sticky; left: 0; width: 1px; border-right: 1px solid black;"></td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 1</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 2</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="position: sticky; left: 0;">Sticky Cell</td>
    <td style="position: sticky; left: 0; width: 1px; border-right: 1px solid black;"></td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 1</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 2</td>
  </tr>
</table>

This solution works by adding an extra column that is 1px wide and has a right border. This column is made sticky, and it serves as a “border” for the original sticky column.

Solution 2: Use a pseudo-element

Another solution is to use a pseudo-element to create the border. You can add a `:before` or `:after` pseudo-element to the sticky column and style it to look like a border:

.sticky-cell:before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  right: 0;
  top: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  width: 1px;
  border-right: 1px solid black;
}

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Sticky Column</th>
    <th>Non-Sticky Column 1</th>
    <th>Non-Sticky Column 2</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="sticky-cell" style="position: sticky; left: 0;">Sticky Cell</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 1</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 2</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td class="sticky-cell" style="position: sticky; left: 0;">Sticky Cell</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 1</td>
    <td>Non-Sticky Cell 2</td>
  </tr>
</table>

This solution works by adding a pseudo-element to the sticky column and styling it to look like a border. The pseudo-element is absolutely positioned and has a width of 1px, which creates the illusion of a border.

Solution 3: Use JavaScript

If you’re not a fan of extra columns or pseudo-elements, you can use JavaScript to solve this issue. You can add an event listener to the table’s scroll event and adjust the border of the sticky column accordingly:

const table = document.querySelector("table");
const stickyColumn = document.querySelector("td[style*='position: sticky;']");

table.addEventListener("scroll", () => {
  const scrollLeft = table.scrollLeft;
  stickyColumn.style.borderRight = `1px solid black`;
  stickyColumn.style.width = `calc(100% - ${scrollLeft}px)`;
});

This solution works by adding an event listener to the table’s scroll event and adjusting the border and width of the sticky column accordingly.

Conclusion

The right border of the first sticky column disappearing when scrolling horizontally in a table is a pesky issue, but it’s not insurmountable. By using one of the solutions outlined above, you can solve this problem and create a visually appealing table with a sticky column.

Remember, the key to solving this issue is to understand how browsers handle sticky elements and table borders. By using a combination of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you can create a table that looks great and functions as expected.

So, the next time you encounter this issue, don’t panic! Take a deep breath, and try one of the solutions outlined above. With a little creativity and perseverance, you’ll be able to solve this problem and create a table that you can be proud of.

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