Improve cursor positioning

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 8 views

Cursor is Misplaced When Zoomed: A Critical Issue in Web Development

In web development, ensuring that the cursor is accurately positioned on the screen is crucial for a seamless user experience. However, a common issue arises when the zoom level is set to anything other than 100%. The cursor becomes misplaced, and the difference becomes more pronounced as it moves to the right. This article delves into the problem of cursor misplacement when zoomed, exploring the current behavior, expected behavior, and steps to reproduce the issue.

The current behavior of the cursor when zoomed is a significant concern for web developers. As the title suggests, the cursor is not positioned correctly when a zoom level other than 100% is set. This issue becomes more apparent as the cursor moves to the right, indicating a correlation between the zoom level and the cursor's accuracy. The problem is not limited to a specific browser or platform, as it has been observed on various devices and browsers.

The expected behavior of the cursor when zoomed is straightforward: it should be accurately positioned on the screen, regardless of the zoom level. This means that the cursor should remain in sync with the user's mouse movements, providing a smooth and intuitive experience. The expected behavior is essential for web developers to create applications that are user-friendly and efficient.

To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

Visit the demo site at https://alphatab.net.
Select a zoom level other than 100% (e.g., 125%).
Click on the rightmost note on any line.

By following these steps, you should be able to observe the cursor misplacement issue firsthand. This problem is not limited to the demo site, as it has been reported on various web applications.

The issue can be observed on the demo site at https://alphatab.net. This link provides a direct access point to the problem, allowing developers to reproduce and investigate the issue.

The cursor misplacement issue was found in version 1.4 (alpha) of the web application. This version is still in the alpha stage, and the issue may have been addressed in later versions.

The issue is observed on the web platform, indicating that it is a cross-browser problem. The problem is not limited to a specific browser or device, as it has been reported on various web applications.

The issue was observed in the following environment:

OS: Linux
Browser: Chromium 134.0.6998.35 Arch Linux

The cursor misplacement issue when zoomed is a critical problem in web development. It affects the user experience, making it difficult for users to interact with web applications. The issue is not limited to a specific browser or platform, as it has been reported on various web applications. By understanding the current behavior, expected behavior, and steps to reproduce the issue, developers can work towards resolving this problem and providing a seamless user experience.

Although a permanent fix is not available, a workaround can be implemented to mitigate the issue. By setting the zoom level to 100% or using a different zooming mechanism, developers can temporarily resolve the problem. However, this workaround is not a long-term solution and should be replaced with a permanent fix.

To address the cursor misplacement issue, developers can explore the following solutions:

Improve cursor positioning: Develop a more accurate cursor positioning algorithm that takes into account the zoom level and screen resolution.
Use a different zooming mechanism: Implement a different zooming mechanism that does not affect the cursor's accuracy.
Provide a zoom level adjustment: Allow users to adjust the zoom level to a specific value that does not cause the cursor misplacement issue.

By exploring these solutions, developers can create web applications that provide a seamless user experience, even when the zoom level is set to anything other than 100%.

The cursor misplacement issue is related to other web development problems, such as:

Cursor accuracy: Ensuring that the cursor is accurately positioned on the screen, regardless of the zoom level or screen resolution.
Zoom level adjustment: Allowing users to adjust the zoom level to a specific value that does not cause the cursor misplacement issue.
Screen resolution: Ensuring that the cursor is accurately positioned on the screen, regardless of the screen resolution.

By understanding these related issues, developers can create web applications that provide a seamless user experience, even in complex scenarios.

The cursor misplacement issue when zoomed is a critical problem in web development. By understanding the current behavior, expected behavior, and steps to reproduce the issue, developers can work towards resolving this problem and providing a seamless user experience. By exploring solutions such as improving cursor positioning, using a different zooming mechanism, and providing a zoom level adjustment, developers can create web applications that are user-friendly and efficient.
Cursor is Misplaced When Zoomed: A Q&A Article

In our previous article, we explored the issue of cursor misplacement when zoomed in web development. This problem affects the user experience, making it difficult for users to interact with web applications. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to the cursor misplacement issue, providing a deeper understanding of the problem and its solutions.

A: The cause of the cursor misplacement issue is related to the way the cursor is positioned on the screen when the zoom level is set to anything other than 100%. This problem is often caused by the browser's or application's inability to accurately calculate the cursor's position, resulting in a misplaced cursor.

A: No, the cursor misplacement issue is not limited to a specific browser or platform. It has been reported on various web applications and browsers, including Chromium, Firefox, and Safari.

A: Yes, the cursor misplacement issue can be temporarily resolved by adjusting the zoom level to 100%. However, this is not a long-term solution and should be replaced with a permanent fix.

A: Some potential solutions to the cursor misplacement issue include:

Improving cursor positioning: Developing a more accurate cursor positioning algorithm that takes into account the zoom level and screen resolution.
Using a different zooming mechanism: Implementing a different zooming mechanism that does not affect the cursor's accuracy.
Providing a zoom level adjustment: Allowing users to adjust the zoom level to a specific value that does not cause the cursor misplacement issue.

A: Yes, the cursor misplacement issue can be resolved using CSS. By using CSS to position the cursor accurately, developers can create web applications that provide a seamless user experience, even when the zoom level is set to anything other than 100%.

A: Yes, the cursor misplacement issue is related to other web development problems, such as:

Cursor accuracy: Ensuring that the cursor is accurately positioned on the screen, regardless of the zoom level or screen resolution.
Zoom level adjustment: Allowing users to adjust the zoom level to a specific value that does not cause the cursor misplacement issue.
Screen resolution: Ensuring that the cursor is accurately positioned on the screen, regardless of the screen resolution.

A: Developers can test the cursor misplacement issue by following these steps:

Visit the demo site at https://alphatab.net.
Select a zoom level other than 100% (e.g., 125%).
Click on the rightmost note on any line.

By following these steps, developers can observe the cursor misplacement issue firsthand and work towards resolving the problem.

A: Yes, the cursor misplacement issue is a critical problem in web development. It affects the user experience, making it difficult for users to interact with web applications. By understanding the current behavior, expected behavior, and steps to reproduce the issue, developers can work towards resolving this problem and providing a seamless user experience.