The phrase “above the fold” was relevant and still is when using it in the context of newspaper design and layout but when using it in terms of web design “above the fold” has lost a lot of its meaning. In the ’90s most computer screens were lower in resolution and smaller making the “above the fold” design more achievable since the viewing size of the site would be more consistent than it is nowadays.
Technology has evolved throughout the years and now there are a wide variety of screen resolutions to consider when designing for the web. Not only are you designing for one specific resolution, or even just the resolutions for desktop, but you need to consider responsive design for the different mobile devices. Trying to incorporate the “above the fold” concept with all of the different screen resolutions in mind is nowhere near practical and will not help with UX.
For instance, we can make the content fit on a screen resolution of 1024×768 but each user has their own personal bower applications (toolbars, applications, etc.) that will take up different amounts of vertical space which will result in different folds per each user. Another thing to consider is when we start scaling the site up we would get a huge white space below the footer on a 22” screen and when we scale down the content would shift to accommodate the smaller screen and scrolling will be required.
There is plenty of research that shows the concept “above the fold” is not relevant anymore and nowadays people are used to scrolling down the page. A more powerful visual concept for web design compared to the traditional “above the fold” concept is to have less content on top, such as an interesting tag line or short content, which will then encourage the user to scroll down and see the most important part and the main purpose of the site. You want to make sure that the site is balanced and not top-heavy with information so there is a reason the user needs to scroll down.
As you can tell the fold for the web has become undefinable since there are so many different screen resolutions to consider. What would be considered “above the fold” on one user’s screen could be completely different on another user’s device. With newspapers, this concept works because of the consistency of the size of the paper however print and web are too different mediums.
Despite its historical significance in print media, the concept of “above the fold” has become increasingly irrelevant in the realm of web design. With the proliferation of various screen sizes and resolutions, attempting to cater to a fixed “above the fold” layout is impractical and counterproductive for user experience (UX). For example, while a design may appear optimized for a particular screen resolution, factors such as browser toolbars and individual user preferences can drastically alter the fold position for each viewer. Furthermore, as screens scale up or down, issues such as excessive white space or content displacement arise, further challenging the feasibility of a static “above the fold” approach.
Research consistently demonstrates that modern users are accustomed to scrolling and engaging with content beyond the initial viewport. Rather than cramming excessive information at the top of a webpage, a more effective strategy is to entice users with compelling taglines or succinct content, encouraging them to explore further. Maintaining a balanced distribution of content throughout the page ensures a cohesive and engaging user experience, mitigating the need to adhere to outdated “above the fold” conventions.
In essence, the concept of the fold in web design has become increasingly nebulous, rendered obsolete by the dynamic nature of digital interfaces and diverse user environments. Unlike the static confines of print media, the fluidity of the web necessitates a shift towards adaptive and user-centric design principles, prioritizing engagement and accessibility over arbitrary fold placements. By embracing this paradigm shift, designers can create more intuitive and impactful digital experiences that resonate with modern audiences across a multitude of devices and platforms.