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

We measure success by how many students come back and tell their friends. Thousands of students already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Earn a certificate at the end of each course and share it with employers. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.

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">
      We measure success by how many students come back and tell their friends. Thousands of students already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Earn a certificate at the end of each course and share it with employers. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.
    </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">
      We measure success by how many students come back and tell their friends. Thousands of students already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Earn a certificate at the end of each course and share it with employers. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.
    </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">
      We measure success by how many students come back and tell their friends. Thousands of students already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Earn a certificate at the end of each course and share it with employers. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.
    </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">
      We measure success by how many students come back and tell their friends. Thousands of students already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Earn a certificate at the end of each course and share it with employers. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

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

Live workshops

Study groups

Live workshops

Study groups

<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">
      Live workshops
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Live workshops
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Study groups
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Live workshops
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Study groups
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

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

Freya Quinn
Aria Duarte
Chloe Mensah
Mateo Morgan
Arjun Patel
Felix Varga

<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 Quinn</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Aria Duarte</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Chloe Mensah</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Mateo Morgan</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Arjun Patel</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2">Felix Varga</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-1758270705290-62b6294dd044?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-1516321497487-e288fb19713f?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-1466	Ivy Brennan	Oslo	May 13, 2026	Approved	$479.28
#TX-5849	Nadia Kowalski	Singapore	Apr 30, 2026	Pending	$301.76

<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-1466</td>
        <td>Ivy Brennan</td>
        <td>Oslo</td>
        <td>May 13, 2026</td>
        <td>Approved</td>
        <td>$479.28</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#TX-5849</td>
        <td>Nadia Kowalski</td>
        <td>Singapore</td>
        <td>Apr 30, 2026</td>
        <td>Pending</td>
        <td>$301.76</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/cora-nest --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/cora-nest --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

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

Learn on your schedule, with lessons that fit into a lunch break.

Instructors are working professionals who teach what they use every day.

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

Guided learning paths take you from beginner to job-ready step by step.

<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">
      Learn on your schedule, with lessons that fit into a lunch break.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Instructors are working professionals who teach what they use every day.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Guided learning paths take you from beginner to job-ready step by step.
    </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">Business</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">Design</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">update</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">journey</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">flexible</a> 
</nav>

9Terms box

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

Terms of use

Lifetime access means you can revisit lessons whenever you need a refresher. Study groups and a friendly forum keep you motivated along the way. Thousands of students already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.

Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. We measure success by how many students come back and tell their friends. Mentors review your projects and give feedback within two days.

Career coaches help with your CV, portfolio and interview practice. The mobile app downloads lessons, so you can learn on the train. Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3 overflow-auto small bg-body-tertiary" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>Lifetime access means you can revisit lessons whenever you need a refresher. Study groups and a friendly forum keep you motivated along the way. Thousands of students already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.</p>
  <p>Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. We measure success by how many students come back and tell their friends. Mentors review your projects and give feedback within two days.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">Career coaches help with your CV, portfolio and interview practice. The mobile app downloads lessons, so you can learn on the train. Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.</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-visible2

<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">2</span>
  </div>
</div>

11Hidden overflow for a cropped title

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

Your next career starts here - We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.

Oct 8, 2025

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3" style="max-width:20rem">
  <div class="overflow-hidden fw-semibold lh-sm" style="height:2.5em">
    Your next career starts here - We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-body-secondary mt-1">
    Oct 8, 2025
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

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

Earn a certificate at the end of each course and share it with employers. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.

<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">
    Earn a certificate at the end of each course and share it with employers. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.
  </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-1565598621680-94ac0c22b148?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&h=700&q=70" alt="Our most popular courses this year" 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

Certificates

Mentoring

Career coaching

Doing

Study groups

Done

Career coaching

<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">
      Certificates
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Mentoring
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Career coaching
    </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">
      Study groups
    </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">
      Career coaching
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

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

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

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="position-relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-3 p-3" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.
  </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.

Every course is built around hands-on projects you can add to your portfolio.

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  Every course is built around hands-on projects you can add to your portfolio.
</div>

17Notification panel

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

Notifications

Short quizzes after each lesson help new knowledge stick.

Try the first lesson of any course for free before you decide.

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

Career coaches help with your CV, portfolio and interview practice.

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">
      Short quizzes after each lesson help new knowledge stick.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Try the first lesson of any course for free before you decide.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Thousands of students already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 small">
      Career coaches help with your CV, portfolio and interview practice.
    </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.

Grow your career one lesson at a time

Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.

<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">Grow your career one lesson at a time</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 position-relative">Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

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

downloads/cora-nest/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/cora-nest/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/cora-nest/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	39	253 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$43.47

<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>39</td>
        <td>253 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$43.47</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>