Pattern 54
Linked scrolling follows passage identity
Let parallel panes move together or independently, with an explicit way to rejoin.
Concrete takeaway
Offer linked and independent scrolling.
Choose an approach
These are editorial decision conditions to validate. Some alternatives are successive states or can be combined; they are not always exclusive choices.
| Alternative | Use when | Tradeoff or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| A · Linked by verse | Corresponding passages should follow together | Use reliable verse anchors rather than pixel ratios |
| B · Independent exploration | The reader wants to explore each edition freely | Rejoining needs a chosen leading pane |
| C · Mapping unavailable | Reference mapping is missing or nontrivial | Do not silently substitute a false correspondence |
The problem
Different wording and poetry create different heights. Equal pixel scrolling can show unrelated verses in adjacent panes.
The pattern
Offer linked and independent scrolling. In linked mode, map the leading pane’s visible verse or passage anchor into the other pane instead of copying pixel offsets. Keep a stable leading pane during an interaction; avoid feedback loops and jitter. In independent mode, show each reference and offer Align at this verse. Rejoining uses the user’s chosen pane as the anchor. If a mapping is missing, split or merged, explain the correspondence and avoid pretending an exact line alignment. Playback following is a separate control; specify which pane it follows.
Compare the alternatives
Let parallel panes move together or independently, with an explicit way to rejoin.
A · Linked by verse
Different text heights still refer to the same passage.
B · Independent exploration
Each pane can show a different reference without snapping back.
C · Mapping unavailable
A gap interrupts synchronisation honestly.
Original wireframe proposals · No live controls · Grey rows represent schematic text, not loading states · Labelled placeholders are not Scripture quotations
Download this wireframe as SVGFailure modes
Proportional scrolling presented as exact correspondence; snapping back after exploration; both panes endlessly steering each other; silently changing playback.
What to validate
Scroll either pane, unlink, explore another chapter and rejoin. Test poetry, verse bridges, missing mappings, touch gestures, resizing and audio following.
Research-informed design proposal. These visual alternatives have not been tested with users in this atlas. Source findings, documented behaviour and this proposed adaptation are different kinds of evidence.
Sources and adaptation
This card is an original design synthesis. The following sources inform its content distinctions, interaction approach or review requirements; they do not validate the whole pattern.
- Scripture structure documentationRelevant structure and marker references reviewed · A format is not a complete model of app behaviour, annotations or formation.
- Understanding ReflowOfficial guidance reviewed on 5 October 2026 · Semantic scroll restoration is an original design proposal, not a requirement stated by this criterion.
- EPUB Media OverlaysRelevant specification section reviewed · Not proof of a particular Bible app implementation.
Common scenarios and flows
- Compare editions across screen sizes — Inspect wording and context while retaining edition identity.
Examples in use
Attributed app evidence with dates and review limits. A screenshot illustrates an implementation; it does not establish that the proposal works for every audience.
Design principles in this decision
Editorial application of Missional by Design. These values frame review questions; they do not validate a pattern’s effectiveness.
- Honesty — Could this interface lead a person to infer more authority, certainty, privacy or human support than the service provides?
- Fruit — What outcome matters for this task, what can be observed responsibly, and what remains beyond the evidence?
Compare alternatives using the task and evidence above. Record competing needs instead of treating a principle as an automatic verdict.