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

Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. We measure success by how many clients come back and tell their friends. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards.

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">
      Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. We measure success by how many clients come back and tell their friends. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards.
    </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">
      Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. We measure success by how many clients come back and tell their friends. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards.
    </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">
      Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. We measure success by how many clients come back and tell their friends. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards.
    </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">
      Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. We measure success by how many clients come back and tell their friends. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

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

UX research

Web design

Campaign production

UX research

<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">
      UX research
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Web design
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Campaign production
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Campaign production
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      UX research
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

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

Freya Kowalski
Elena Fischer
Diego Alvarez
Ruby Mensah
Nora Haddad
Mason Ibrahim

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-3 overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Freya Kowalski</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Elena Fischer</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Diego Alvarez</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ruby Mensah</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Nora Haddad</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2">Mason Ibrahim</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="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1742440710226-450e3b85c100?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&h=800&q=70" 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="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1752650736677-94fe8cdb9d5c?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&h=800&q=70" 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
#PO-3369	Chloe Lindqvist	Cape Town	Jul 31, 2026	Draft	$516.69
#INV-5338	Leo Rossi	Prague	Oct 28, 2025	In review	$690.94

<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>#PO-3369</td>
        <td>Chloe Lindqvist</td>
        <td>Cape Town</td>
        <td>Jul 31, 2026</td>
        <td>Draft</td>
        <td>$516.69</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#INV-5338</td>
        <td>Leo Rossi</td>
        <td>Prague</td>
        <td>Oct 28, 2025</td>
        <td>In review</td>
        <td>$690.94</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/brioera --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/brioera --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

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

Clients stay with us for years because we treat their brand like our own.

We have helped more than a hundred companies launch, rebrand and grow online.

We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.

We combine strategy, design and technology to build brands that grow.

<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">
      Clients stay with us for years because we treat their brand like our own.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      We have helped more than a hundred companies launch, rebrand and grow online.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      We combine strategy, design and technology to build brands that grow.
    </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">Social</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">tips</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">Social</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">release</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">routine</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">bright</a> 
</nav>

9Terms box

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

Terms of use

From logo to launch campaign, everything is designed to work together. We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you. Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update. Every project starts with a workshop, so we understand your audience before we design.

Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess. Our motion team turns complex ideas into short films people actually watch. Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. Thousands of clients already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.

Small teams, short feedback loops and no handoffs lost in translation. We test early with real users, so the final design works on the first day. Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3 overflow-auto small bg-body-tertiary" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>From logo to launch campaign, everything is designed to work together. We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you. Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update. Every project starts with a workshop, so we understand your audience before we design.</p>
  <p>Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess. Our motion team turns complex ideas into short films people actually watch. Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. Thousands of clients already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">Small teams, short feedback loops and no handoffs lost in translation. We test early with real users, so the final design works on the first day. Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.</p>
</div>

10Visible overflow for a badge

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

overflow-hidden4

overflow-visible6

<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">4</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">6</span>
  </div>
</div>

11Hidden overflow for a cropped title

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

We make good brands great - Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.

Mar 10, 2026

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3" style="max-width:20rem">
  <div class="overflow-hidden fw-semibold lh-sm" style="height:2.5em">
    We make good brands great - Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-body-secondary mt-1">
    Mar 10, 2026
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

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

Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email. Senior designers lead every project from the first sketch to the final file.

<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">
    Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email. Senior designers lead every project from the first sketch to the final file.
  </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="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1777923311853-d14b7beb9fec?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&h=700&q=70" alt="Looking back at a busy season" 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

Web design

Campaign production

Content strategy

Doing

Web design

Done

Campaign production

<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">
      Web design
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Campaign production
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Content strategy
    </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">
      Web design
    </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">
      Campaign production
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

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

We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards.

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="position-relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-3 p-3" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards.
  </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.

Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update.

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update.
</div>

17Notification panel

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

Notifications

Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.

Small teams, short feedback loops and no handoffs lost in translation.

We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.

Thousands of clients already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.

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">
      Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Small teams, short feedback loops and no handoffs lost in translation.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 small">
      Thousands of clients already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.
    </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.

Brands that stand out and sell

Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.

<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">Brands that stand out and sell</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 position-relative">Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

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

downloads/brioera/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/brioera/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/brioera/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	29	470 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$96.12

<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>29</td>
        <td>470 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$96.12</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>