Intro.js Guided Page Tour

Intro.js Guided Page Tour

Intro.js is a lightweight JavaScript library for creating interactive, step-by-step guided tours on web pages, helping users navigate and understand new interfaces. In this demo, it highlights elements like buttons or sections with tooltips, guiding users through a sequence of steps. This onboarding technique reduces confusion in complex apps, improving user adoption and satisfaction. The library supports customization for positioning, themes, and callbacks, making it versatile for tutorials, feature introductions, or walkthroughs.

What is Intro.js?

Intro.js provides an easy way to build product tours without deep coding. It overlays the page with highlights and popups that explain features, progressing through predefined steps. Key features include:

  • Element targeting via selectors.
  • Customizable tooltips with text, positioning, and styling.
  • Event hooks for start, change, and end of tours.
  • Keyboard navigation and mobile support.

It’s ideal for onboarding new users, showcasing updates, or walking through workflows in dashboards, e-commerce sites, or educational platforms.

How Intro.js Can Be Used

Guided tours enhance UX by contextualizing features. Use cases include:

  • App Onboarding: Introduce key sections in a SaaS tool.
  • Feature Highlights: Announce new functionalities post-update.
  • Tutorials: Step-by-step guides for complex tasks.
  • Accessibility Aids: Provide narrated tours for screen readers.

In this demo, the tour targets elements with IDs and classes, displaying intro text sequentially.

Implementation in the Demo

The code sets up a tour with steps array, each specifying an element and intro message:

var intro = introJs();
intro.setOptions({
  steps: [
    {
      element: '#step1',
      intro: 'This is step 1'
    },
    {
      element: '#step2',
      intro: 'Welcome to next step.'
    },
    {
      element: '#step3',
      intro: 'It ends here.'
    },
    {
      element: '.AreaBoxTopLeft',
      intro: 'It ends here 2.'
    }
  ]
});

intro.start();

This initializes Intro.js, defines steps targeting DOM elements, and starts the tour. Users can navigate with next/previous buttons or skip.

Alternatives to Intro.js

Several libraries offer similar functionality:

  • Shepherd.js: More flexible with advanced theming, progress indicators, and better accessibility. Great for complex tours with branching paths.
  • Driver.js: Lightweight and modern, focusing on highlights without heavy tooltips. Easier for simple highlights or single-step intros.
  • Custom Implementation: Using CSS overlays and JavaScript for full control, but requires more effort. Libraries like Popper.js for positioning can help.

Choose based on project needs: Intro.js for quick setups, Shepherd for advanced features.

Benefits and Best Practices

Intro.js improves engagement by guiding users, but avoid overusing to prevent annoyance. Test on mobile, ensure accessibility (e.g., ARIA support), and allow skipping. This demo shows a basic tour, adaptable for various web projects to boost usability.

Portfolio intro.jsjavascriptonboardingtour