Overflow

Overflow utilities control what happens when content is bigger than its box: overflow-auto scrolls when needed, overflow-hidden clips, overflow-visible lets content spill and overflow-scroll always shows scrollbars. overflow-x-* and overflow-y-* handle each axis separately, ideal for wide tables and side-scrolling rows.

1The four overflow values

overflow-auto, overflow-hidden, overflow-visible and overflow-scroll on boxes of fixed height.

overflow-auto

The new dark mode makes the whole team on the same page in just a few clicks. This friendly community helps projects moving forward in just a few clicks. The new open api makes decisions quicker and clearer in just a few clicks. A focused team shows new ideas to life without extra tools.

overflow-hidden

overflow-visible

overflow-scroll

<div class="row g-3 small">
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-auto</code>
    <div class="overflow-auto border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary" style="height:100px">
      The new dark mode makes the whole team on the same page in just a few clicks. This friendly community helps projects moving forward in just a few clicks. The new open api makes decisions quicker and clearer in just a few clicks. A focused team shows new ideas to life without extra tools.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-hidden</code>
    <div class="overflow-hidden border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary" style="height:100px">
      The new dark mode makes the whole team on the same page in just a few clicks. This friendly community helps projects moving forward in just a few clicks. The new open api makes decisions quicker and clearer in just a few clicks. A focused team shows new ideas to life without extra tools.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-visible</code>
    <div class="overflow-visible border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary mb-5" style="height:100px">
      The new dark mode makes the whole team on the same page in just a few clicks. This friendly community helps projects moving forward in just a few clicks. The new open api makes decisions quicker and clearer in just a few clicks. A focused team shows new ideas to life without extra tools.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-scroll</code>
    <div class="overflow-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 bg-body-tertiary" style="height:100px">
      The new dark mode makes the whole team on the same page in just a few clicks. This friendly community helps projects moving forward in just a few clicks. The new open api makes decisions quicker and clearer in just a few clicks. A focused team shows new ideas to life without extra tools.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

overflow-x-auto with flex-nowrap scrolls a row of cards sideways.

Team analytics

Workflow automation

API integrations

Workflow automation

Smart reporting

<div class="d-flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-2">
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Team analytics
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Workflow automation
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      API integrations
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Workflow automation
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Smart reporting
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

overflow-y-auto and a max-height make a scrolling list.

Mia Fischer
Zoe Mensah
Diego Lindqvist
Ethan Moreau
Kenji Silva
Ravi Alvarez

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-3 overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Mia Fischer</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Zoe Mensah</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Diego Lindqvist</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ethan Moreau</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Kenji Silva</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2">Ravi Alvarez</li>
</ul>

4Hidden to clip rounded corners

overflow-hidden on a rounded card clips the image corners.

without

overflow-hidden

<div class="row g-3">
  <div class="col-6">
    <div class="border rounded-4">
      <img src="../assets/img/photo-1.svg" alt="Not clipped" class="w-100 d-block">
      <div class="p-2 small">
        without
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6">
    <div class="border rounded-4 overflow-hidden">
      <img src="../assets/img/photo-2.svg" alt="Clipped" class="w-100 d-block">
      <div class="p-2 small">
        overflow-hidden
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

5Wide table

A wide table inside overflow-x-auto scrolls instead of breaking the page.

Order	Customer	City	Date	Status	Total
#INV-5117	Elena Brennan	Melbourne	Mar 23, 2026	Shipped	$762.13
#PO-9243	Kai Fischer	Austin	May 7, 2026	Active	$338.72

<div class="overflow-x-auto border rounded-3">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 text-nowrap">
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th scope="col">Order</th>
        <th scope="col">Customer</th>
        <th scope="col">City</th>
        <th scope="col">Date</th>
        <th scope="col">Status</th>
        <th scope="col">Total</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>#INV-5117</td>
        <td>Elena Brennan</td>
        <td>Melbourne</td>
        <td>Mar 23, 2026</td>
        <td>Shipped</td>
        <td>$762.13</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#PO-9243</td>
        <td>Kai Fischer</td>
        <td>Austin</td>
        <td>May 7, 2026</td>
        <td>Active</td>
        <td>$338.72</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

6Code block that scrolls

Long lines in a pre with overflow-x-auto stay on one line.

npm run build -- --mode production --out-dir dist/brand-name-8 --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir

<pre class="overflow-x-auto bg-body-tertiary border rounded-3 p-3 small mb-0"><code>npm run build -- --mode production --out-dir dist/brand-name-8 --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

A fixed height message area with overflow-y-auto above a fixed input.

A focused process helps the whole team on the same page all year round.

A bright process lets every detail in view for teams of every size.

The new open api shows the whole team on the same page wherever you are.

A honest process keeps your work organised without the usual hassle.

<div class="border rounded-4 d-flex flex-column" style="height:220px;max-width:22rem">
  <div class="overflow-y-auto p-3 d-flex flex-column gap-2 flex-grow-1">
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      A focused process helps the whole team on the same page all year round.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      A bright process lets every detail in view for teams of every size.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      The new open api shows the whole team on the same page wherever you are.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      A honest process keeps your work organised without the usual hassle.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border-top p-2">
    <label class="visually-hidden" for="ut-msg-1253">Message</label>
    <input id="ut-msg-1253" type="text" class="form-control form-control-sm" placeholder="Type a message">
  </div>
</div>

8Scrollable tab strip

Pills in a flex-nowrap row with overflow-x-auto for many categories.

<nav class="d-flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1" aria-label="Categories">
  <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-primary rounded-pill text-nowrap">All</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">Product</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">case study</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">Support</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">community</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">idea</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">friendly</a> 
</nav>

9Terms box

A long text inside a bordered box with overflow-auto, like a licence agreement.

Terms of use

A powerful journey shows the whole team on the same page wherever you are. This clear team brings you focused on what matters without extra tools. The new open api brings data easy to understand without the usual hassle.

This secure release lets projects moving forward without extra tools. Our secure file sharing makes decisions quicker and clearer all year round. A elegant idea guides complex tasks into simple steps without the usual hassle.

This smart dashboard keeps new ideas to life all year round. Our api integrations helps new ideas to life for teams of every size. The new dark mode lets every detail in view at a fair price. Our team analytics shows your work organised in just a few clicks.

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3 overflow-auto small bg-body-tertiary" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>A powerful journey shows the whole team on the same page wherever you are. This clear team brings you focused on what matters without extra tools. The new open api brings data easy to understand without the usual hassle.</p>
  <p>This secure release lets projects moving forward without extra tools. Our secure file sharing makes decisions quicker and clearer all year round. A elegant idea guides complex tasks into simple steps without the usual hassle.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">This smart dashboard keeps new ideas to life all year round. Our api integrations helps new ideas to life for teams of every size. The new dark mode lets every detail in view at a fair price. Our team analytics shows your work organised in just a few clicks.</p>
</div>

10Visible overflow for a badge

overflow-visible lets a badge stick out of a box that would otherwise clip it.

overflow-hidden7

overflow-visible4

<div class="d-flex gap-4 pt-2">
  <div class="position-relative overflow-hidden border rounded-3 p-3 small">
    overflow-hidden<span class="position-absolute top-0 start-100 translate-middle badge rounded-pill text-bg-danger">7</span>
  </div>
  <div class="position-relative overflow-visible border rounded-3 p-3 small">
    overflow-visible<span class="position-absolute top-0 start-100 translate-middle badge rounded-pill text-bg-danger">4</span>
  </div>
</div>

11Hidden overflow for a cropped title

overflow-hidden with a fixed height clips long text to two lines worth of space.

Plan, build and launch in one place - A elegant community gives the whole team on the same page for teams of every size.

Sep 27, 2026

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3" style="max-width:20rem">
  <div class="overflow-hidden fw-semibold lh-sm" style="height:2.5em">
    Plan, build and launch in one place - A elegant community gives the whole team on the same page for teams of every size.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-body-secondary mt-1">
    Sep 27, 2026
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

The nav column scrolls with overflow-y-auto while the content stays put.

This friendly release guides complex tasks into simple steps at a fair price. A fast community makes time back in your day at a fair price.

<div class="d-flex border rounded-3" style="height:180px">
  <nav class="overflow-y-auto border-end p-2 small flex-shrink-0" style="width:130px" aria-label="Chapters">
    <a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Intro</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Setup</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Layout</a> <a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Colours</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Forms</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Tables</a> <a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Charts</a><a href="#" class="d-block py-1">Deploy</a> 
  </nav>
  <div class="p-3 small">
    This friendly release guides complex tasks into simple steps at a fair price. A fast community makes time back in your day at a fair price.
  </div>
</div>

13Image pan area

A large image in an overflow-auto box can be scrolled in both directions.

<div class="overflow-auto border rounded-3" style="height:160px;max-width:26rem">
  <img src="../assets/img/wide-3.svg" alt="Flexible ways to improve your release" width="900" height="394" class="d-block"> 
</div>

14Kanban columns

Columns side by side in overflow-x-auto, each column scrolls with overflow-y-auto.

To do

Workflow automation

Team analytics

Single sign-on

Doing

Workflow automation

Done

Team analytics

<div class="d-flex gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1">
  <div class="bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 p-2 flex-shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small fw-semibold mb-2">
      To do
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Workflow automation
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Team analytics
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Single sign-on
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 p-2 flex-shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small fw-semibold mb-2">
      Doing
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Workflow automation
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 p-2 flex-shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small fw-semibold mb-2">
      Done
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Team analytics
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

overflow-x-hidden hides content that slides in from the side, like an off-screen panel.

A focused dashboard guides decisions quicker and clearer on any device.

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="position-relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-3 p-3" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    A focused dashboard guides decisions quicker and clearer on any device.
  </div>
  <div class="position-absolute top-0 bg-primary-subtle h-100 p-2 small" style="left:90%;width:200px">
    Panel partly off the edge
  </div>
</div>

16Overflow-y scroll always

overflow-y-scroll always shows the vertical scrollbar, so the width never jumps.

This secure goal keeps projects moving forward at a fair price.

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  This secure goal keeps projects moving forward at a fair price.
</div>

17Notification panel

A dropdown-like panel with header, scrolling body and footer.

Notifications

Our single sign-on keeps projects moving forward for teams of every size.

A focused launch keeps you focused on what matters wherever you are.

The new dark mode brings complex tasks into simple steps on any device.

This reliable workflow keeps decisions quicker and clearer without the usual hassle.

View all

<div class="border rounded-3 shadow-sm d-flex flex-column" style="max-width:20rem;height:220px">
  <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom fw-semibold small">
    Notifications
  </div>
  <div class="overflow-y-auto flex-grow-1">
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Our single sign-on keeps projects moving forward for teams of every size.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      A focused launch keeps you focused on what matters wherever you are.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      The new dark mode brings complex tasks into simple steps on any device.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 small">
      This reliable workflow keeps decisions quicker and clearer without the usual hassle.
    </div>
  </div>
  <a href="#" class="px-3 py-2 border-top small text-center">View all</a> 
</div>

18Clip a decorative shape

A big circle partly outside its panel is cut off by overflow-hidden.

The workspace your team will actually love

The new dark mode shows data easy to understand on any device.

<div class="position-relative overflow-hidden text-bg-primary rounded-4 p-4">
  <div class="position-absolute bg-white bg-opacity-25 rounded-circle" style="width:180px;height:180px;right:-60px;top:-60px">
  </div>
  <h3 class="h5 position-relative">The workspace your team will actually love</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 position-relative">The new dark mode shows data easy to understand on any device.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

overflow-hidden plus text-truncate versus text-break for an unbreakable string.

downloads/brand-name-8/assets/very-long-file-name-without-any-spaces-at-all.zip

<div class="row g-2 small">
  <div class="col-sm-6">
    <div class="border rounded-3 p-2 text-truncate">
      downloads/brand-name-8/assets/very-long-file-name-without-any-spaces-at-all.zip
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-sm-6">
    <div class="border rounded-3 p-2 text-break">
      downloads/brand-name-8/assets/very-long-file-name-without-any-spaces-at-all.zip
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

20Responsive table wrapper

table-responsive is the helper made of overflow-x-auto for tables.

Plan	Users	Storage	Support	API	Price
Pro	30	271 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$46.38

<div class="table-responsive border rounded-3">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 text-nowrap">
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th scope="col">Plan</th>
        <th scope="col">Users</th>
        <th scope="col">Storage</th>
        <th scope="col">Support</th>
        <th scope="col">API</th>
        <th scope="col">Price</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>Pro</td>
        <td>30</td>
        <td>271 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$46.38</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>