How to Add a Back to Top Button in Magento 2

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Prerequisites
  3. Understanding Magento 2 Structure
  4. Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a "Back to Top" Button
  5. Conclusion
  6. FAQs

Introduction

Navigating long pages on an e-commerce site can be challenging for users. A "Back to Top" button significantly improves user experience by allowing visitors to effortlessly return to the top of the page. Adding this feature to your Magento 2 store can seem daunting if you're not well-versed in coding, but this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Today's digital shoppers demand convenience and speed. This tutorial is relevant for any e-commerce store owner or developer looking to enhance site usability. By the end of this post, you’ll know precisely how to add a "Back to Top" button to your e-commerce site using Magento 2, even if your theme lacks a footer.phtml file.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the technicalities, ensure you have the following:

  • Admin access to your Magento 2 store
  • Basic understanding of Magento's file structure
  • Knowledge of PHP and HTML

Understanding Magento 2 Structure

Magento 2 organizes its files and templates logically, but it can be complex to a newcomer. Key directories you'll interact with include:

  • app/design/frontend/: Where your theme files reside.
  • app/code/: The location for most custom modules and development tasks.

Our focus will be adding a "Back to Top" button, which involves understanding where and how to modify or create specific files within these directories.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a "Back to Top" Button

Step 1: Identify the Correct Template File

Firstly, check if your current theme has a footer.phtml file. Navigate to app/design/frontend/Vendor/Theme/templates/html/. If your theme lacks this file, Magento will use the core one from its base template. You can override this by copying it to your theme’s directory.

  1. Navigate to your Magento installation directory.
  2. Copy footer.phtml from the base theme:
    cp vendor/magento/module-theme/view/frontend/templates/html/footer.phtml app/design/frontend/Vendor/Theme/templates/html/

Step 2: Adding Custom JavaScript

To incorporate the "Back to Top" functionality, add a custom JavaScript file. This script activates the button when the user scrolls down the page.

  1. Create a custom JavaScript file in your theme directory:

    mkdir -p app/design/frontend/Vendor/Theme/web/js/
touch app/design/frontend/Vendor/Theme/web/js/backtotop.js

  2. Add the following script in backtotop.js:

    require([
    'jquery',
    'domReady!'
], function ($) {
    var button = $('<div/>', {
        id: 'back-to-top',
        style: 'display: none;',
        text: '↑'
    });

    button.appendTo('body');

    $(window).scroll(function () {
        if ($(this).scrollTop() > 100) {
            button.fadeIn();
        } else {
            button.fadeOut();
        }
    });

    button.click(function () {
        $('html, body').animate({scrollTop: 0}, 800);
        return false;
    }); 
});

Step 3: Including the JavaScript in Layout File

Ensure that this JavaScript file is always loaded. Modify the default.xml layout file found at app/design/frontend/Vendor/Theme/Magento_Theme/layout/:

  1. Open (or create) default.xml:
    <page xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:View/Layout/etc/page_configuration.xsd">
    <head>
        <script src="Vendor_Theme::js/backtotop.js"/>
    </head>
</page>

Step 4: Adding Styles for the Button

To make the button visually pleasing, add CSS to your theme’s styles:

  1. Create a new CSS file (if not existing) at app/design/frontend/Vendor/Theme/web/css/custom.css:
    #back-to-top {
    position: fixed;
    bottom: 20px;
    right: 20px;
    background-color: #333;
    color: white;
    padding: 10px;
    border-radius: 5px;
    cursor: pointer;
    z-index: 9999;
}

Step 5: Requiring the CSS in footer.phtml

Make sure to include your custom CSS by editing footer.phtml:

  1. Add the following lines:
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="<?php echo $this->getViewFileUrl('Vendor_Theme::css/custom.css'); ?>" />

Step 6: Deploy Static Content and Clear Cache

Whenever you make changes to CSS, JavaScript, or templates, deploy static content and clear the cache for changes to take effect:

  1. Run these commands:
    bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy -f
bin/magento cache:clean
bin/magento cache:flush

Conclusion

Enhancing user experience on your Magento 2 site by adding a "Back to Top" button is uncomplicated when broken down into manageable steps. Throughout this guide, we copied necessary template files, created custom JavaScript and CSS, and included them appropriately. The result is a more user-friendly site that encourages visitors to spend more time browsing.

FAQs

1. Can I customize the appearance of the "Back to Top" button?

Absolutely! Modify the styles in your custom.css file to change colors, positioning, animation, and more.

2. What if my theme uses different templating files?

Check your theme's documentation for the correct template file locations or contact your theme provider for assistance.

3. Is it necessary to clear the cache every time I make changes?

Yes, clearing the cache ensures that your modifications are loaded and visible on the frontend.

4. Can I extend this functionality for other elements?

Yes, the JavaScript logic here can be adapted to animate other elements on the page or introduce new interactive features.

By following this guide, you’ve taken a significant step towards optimizing your Magento 2 store for better user engagement and improved navigability. Happy coding!