Title: gRDV Anchor Transition
Author: grdv
Published: <strong>August 18, 2026</strong>
Last modified: August 18, 2026

---

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# gRDV Anchor Transition

 By [grdv](https://profiles.wordpress.org/grdv/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/grdv-anchor-transition.0.4.6.zip)

 * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/grdv-anchor-transition/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/grdv-anchor-transition/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/grdv-anchor-transition/#installation)
 * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/grdv-anchor-transition/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/grdv-anchor-transition/)

## Description

Anchor links are useful. The sudden jump or fast visible scroll that follows often
is not.

Turn standards-compliant anchor links into a calm visual transition — whether they
were created with the block editor, a theme, or a page builder.

Whether the browser jumps instantly or a theme races visibly through the page, gRDV
Anchor Transition hides that distracting movement behind a configurable visual transition.
The current view is covered, the browser moves instantly to the destination in the
background, and the new section is revealed. Visitors arrive where they expected
without watching the whole page rush past.

It works for links on the same page, links to anchors on another internal page, 
and back-to-top controls. No cloud account, external service, or page-builder-specific
widget is required.

#### Why use gRDV Anchor Transition?

 * Replace abrupt anchor jumps and fast scroll-to-anchor animations with a calmer,
   intentional transition.
 * Keep long landing pages, one-page websites, tables of contents, and feature navigation
   visually coherent.
 * Use the same effect for same-page anchors and destinations on other internal 
   pages.
 * Apply an optional offset so sticky or fixed headers do not cover the destination.
 * Reuse a recognized theme or builder back-to-top control.
 * Create and style a fallback back-to-top button when the site does not provide
   one.
 * Find common anchor mistakes directly on the rendered page before visitors discover
   them.

#### A transition that fits the website

Configure the effect under Settings > Anchor Transition. Adjust:

 * Cover, hold, and reveal duration.
 * Maximum overlay opacity.
 * Solid color or linear-gradient background.
 * Easing and mobile behavior.
 * Automatic fixed-header detection and adjustable spacing between the anchor target
   and the top edge of the page.
 * Same-page, cross-page, and back-to-top behavior.

The transition has three clear phases:

 1. **Cover:** the overlay fades in and hides the current view.
 2. **Move:** the browser positions the destination instantly while the page is covered.
    An optional hold time can add a deliberate pause.
 3. **Reveal:** the overlay fades out and presents the destination.

Start with the supplied defaults, then adjust cover and reveal duration together.
A short hold time feels responsive; a longer one creates a more noticeable scene
change.

#### Your own back-to-top button, when needed

WordPress itself does not add a universal floating back-to-top control, while some
themes and builders provide one. The plugin first looks for a recognized existing
control and routes it through the configured transition.

If none is present, an optional fallback button can be created with its own:

 * Left or right placement.
 * Horizontal and vertical edge distance in pixels.
 * Background and icon color.
 * Arrow, chevron, triangle, or double-arrow icon.
 * Round, rounded, or square shape.
 * Scroll distance at which the button becomes visible.

Pixel offsets help keep the button clear of cookie controls, chat bubbles, and other
floating widgets. Styling options affect only the plugin-provided fallback button;
existing theme and builder controls retain their own design.

#### Catch broken anchors before visitors do

Administrators receive an Anchor Check entry in the front-end toolbar. It examines
the page as it is actually rendered by WordPress, the active theme, and the page
builder. The checker reports:

 * Links whose target ID is missing on the current page.
 * Duplicate IDs in the rendered page.
 * IDs that differ only by letter case.
 * Empty ID attributes.
 * Empty hash links.
 * Invalid encoded anchor links.

Affected elements can be highlighted directly on the page. The check does not edit
content, crawl the whole website, or save a report.

#### Built for rendered HTML, not one specific builder

The plugin works with standard HTML anchor links and IDs. This makes it suitable
for the block editor and block themes, classic themes, and builders such as Divi,
Elementor, Bricks, Breakdance, Beaver Builder, Oxygen, and WPBakery.

Common tabs, accordions, popups, responsive navigation controls, and builder editing
modes keep their original behavior. Individual links or components can also be excluded
with the `grat-no-transition` class, the `data-gr-anchor-transition="off"` attribute,
or a custom CSS selector.

#### Local by design

The plugin does not collect, transmit, or permanently store visitor data. It does
not use cookies, analytics, external APIs, CDNs, or remote assets.

For a link to an anchor on another internal page, it temporarily places only the
destination path, query, anchor, and timestamp in the browser’s session storage.
The entry is removed when the destination reads it and expires after ten seconds.
Checker results remain in the current administrator’s browser tab and disappear 
when the panel or page is closed.

#### Accessibility

The plugin respects the visitor’s `prefers-reduced-motion` setting and skips the
visual transition when reduced motion is requested. After anchor navigation, keyboard
focus is moved to the destination. The fallback back-to-top button includes an accessible
label and keyboard focus style. The plugin does not claim to certify accessibility
compliance.

## Screenshots

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## Installation

 1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/` or install it through the WordPress
    plugin screen.
 2. Activate gRDV Anchor Transition.
 3. Open Settings > Anchor Transition and begin with the supplied defaults.
 4. While logged in as an administrator, open a front-end page and select Anchor Check
    in the toolbar.

The settings page explains the timing phases and compatibility options. All settings
can be restored with the protected reset action at the bottom of the page.

## FAQ

### Does this require a page builder?

No. It works with normal HTML anchor links and targets in the rendered page.

### What kinds of anchor links are supported?

The plugin handles links to a target on the current page, links to an anchor on 
another internal page, and recognized back-to-top controls. External websites are
not intercepted.

### Does it add smooth scrolling to mouse-wheel or keyboard navigation?

No. It covers anchor navigation and positions the destination instantly in the background
instead of adding another visible smooth-scroll effect. Normal mouse-wheel, touch,
and keyboard scrolling remains unchanged.

### Does it support my theme’s back-to-top button?

The plugin recognizes common controls from Divi and other themes and plugins. Additional
CSS selectors can be entered in the settings. An optional fallback button is shown
only when no recognized control exists and can be styled independently with its 
own icon, shape, colors, side, and pixel offsets.

### Will the plugin styling change my Divi or theme button?

No. Existing controls retain their original appearance. Icon, shape, color, and 
pixel-offset settings apply only to the fallback button created by the plugin.

### Can I exclude a specific link or component?

Yes. Add the `grat-no-transition` class or the `data-gr-anchor-transition="off"`
attribute to a link or one of its parent elements. The supplied exclusion setting
already recognizes both. Additional CSS selectors can be entered for custom components.

### Does it interfere with tabs or accordions?

The plugin avoids common tab, accordion, popup, responsive menu, and builder control
patterns. Components with unusual markup can be added to the exclusion selector.

### Does the checker crawl the whole website?

No. It checks the currently rendered page. This keeps the check fast, local, compatible
with dynamic builder output, and free of stored scan data. Anchors on another page
are checked when that page is opened.

### Does the plugin store personal data?

No. It does not store or transmit personal data and does not use cookies. A short-
lived session-storage entry containing only the requested internal destination is
used to prevent the browser’s native scroll during cross-page anchor transitions.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“gRDV Anchor Transition” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ grdv ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/grdv/)

“gRDV Anchor Transition” has been translated into 1 locale. Thank you to [the translators](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/grdv-anchor-transition/contributors)
for their contributions.

[Translate “gRDV Anchor Transition” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/grdv-anchor-transition)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/grdv-anchor-transition/),
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/grdv-anchor-transition/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/grdv-anchor-transition/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/grdv-anchor-transition/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 0.4.6

 * Added an extensible tab bar to the single gRDV Anchor Transition settings page
   so companion modules can integrate their settings without creating extra WordPress
   menu entries.
 * Unified the plugin license declaration as GPLv3 or later.
 * Replaced development-only concept artwork with the final WordPress directory 
   icon assets.

Earlier release notes are available in `changelog.txt`.

## Meta

 *  Version **0.4.6**
 *  Last updated **1 day ago**
 *  Active installations **Fewer than 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **7.0.4**
 *  PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
 *  Languages
 * [English (UK)](https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/grdv-anchor-transition/) and
   [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/grdv-anchor-transition/).
 *  [Translate into your language](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/grdv-anchor-transition)
 * Tags
 * [anchor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/anchor/)[checker](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/checker/)
   [navigation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/navigation/)[transition](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/transition/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/grdv-anchor-transition/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/grdv-anchor-transition/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/grdv-anchor-transition/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ grdv ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/grdv/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/grdv-anchor-transition/)