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

Neighbourhood guides cover transport, schools and things to do. Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. Get a free, no-obligation valuation of your home within 48 hours.

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">
      Neighbourhood guides cover transport, schools and things to do. Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. Get a free, no-obligation valuation of your home within 48 hours.
    </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">
      Neighbourhood guides cover transport, schools and things to do. Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. Get a free, no-obligation valuation of your home within 48 hours.
    </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">
      Neighbourhood guides cover transport, schools and things to do. Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. Get a free, no-obligation valuation of your home within 48 hours.
    </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">
      Neighbourhood guides cover transport, schools and things to do. Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it. Get a free, no-obligation valuation of your home within 48 hours.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

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

Legal support

Mortgage advice

Rental management

Property search

<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">
      Legal support
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Mortgage advice
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Mortgage advice
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Rental management
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Property search
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

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

Kenji Nguyen
Ivy Sato
Lea Larsen
Felix Kowalski
Ruby Ashford
Isla Rossi

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-3 overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Kenji Nguyen</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ivy Sato</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Lea Larsen</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Felix Kowalski</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ruby Ashford</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2">Isla Rossi</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-1580587771525-78b9dba3b914?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-1600596542815-ffad4c1539a9?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
#TX-6585	Noah Carter	Vancouver	Mar 31, 2026	Approved	$774.58
#ORD-5425	Lucas Delgado	Auckland	Nov 22, 2025	Cancelled	$724.13

<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>#TX-6585</td>
        <td>Noah Carter</td>
        <td>Vancouver</td>
        <td>Mar 31, 2026</td>
        <td>Approved</td>
        <td>$774.58</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#ORD-5425</td>
        <td>Lucas Delgado</td>
        <td>Auckland</td>
        <td>Nov 22, 2025</td>
        <td>Cancelled</td>
        <td>$724.13</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/irisan --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/irisan --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

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

We measure success by how many buyers come back and tell their friends.

We handle the paperwork, so you can focus on planning the move.

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

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

<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">
      We measure success by how many buyers come back and tell their friends.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      We handle the paperwork, so you can focus on planning the move.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.
    </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">Villas</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">how-to</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">Commercial</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">project</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

We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you. Our rental team manages repairs, payments and tenants for landlords. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.

Our rental team manages repairs, payments and tenants for landlords. Mortgage advisors help you understand what you can afford before you start. We measure success by how many buyers come back and tell their friends.

Book viewings online and take a 3D tour before you leave the house. Every listing is checked by our team, so the photos match what you see in person. Get a free, no-obligation valuation of your home within 48 hours.

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3 overflow-auto small bg-body-tertiary" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you. Our rental team manages repairs, payments and tenants for landlords. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.</p>
  <p>Our rental team manages repairs, payments and tenants for landlords. Mortgage advisors help you understand what you can afford before you start. We measure success by how many buyers come back and tell their friends.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">Book viewings online and take a 3D tour before you leave the house. Every listing is checked by our team, so the photos match what you see in person. Get a free, no-obligation valuation of your home within 48 hours.</p>
</div>

10Visible overflow for a badge

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

overflow-hidden3

overflow-visible9

<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">3</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">9</span>
  </div>
</div>

11Hidden overflow for a cropped title

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

Homes you will love coming back to - Price alerts tell you the moment a home that fits your search comes on the market.

Jan 12, 2026

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3" style="max-width:20rem">
  <div class="overflow-hidden fw-semibold lh-sm" style="height:2.5em">
    Homes you will love coming back to - Price alerts tell you the moment a home that fits your search comes on the market.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-body-secondary mt-1">
    Jan 12, 2026
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

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

Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Most of our homes sell within six weeks, often above the asking 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">
    Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Most of our homes sell within six weeks, often above the asking 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="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1757524492552-d47a66a2b63e?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&h=700&q=70" alt="How we sold a lake cottage in nine days" 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

Mortgage advice

Legal support

Property search

Doing

Property search

Done

Legal support

<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">
      Mortgage advice
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Legal support
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Property search
    </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">
      Property search
    </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">
      Legal support
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

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

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

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="position-relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-3 p-3" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you.
  </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.

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

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.
</div>

17Notification panel

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

Notifications

Honest advice comes first, even when it means waiting for the right home.

Neighbourhood guides cover transport, schools and things to do.

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

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

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">
      Honest advice comes first, even when it means waiting for the right home.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Neighbourhood guides cover transport, schools and things to do.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom small">
      Thousands of buyers already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 small">
      We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.
    </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.

Your next address starts here

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">Your next address starts here</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/irisan/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/irisan/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/irisan/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	40	323 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$33.86

<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>40</td>
        <td>323 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$33.86</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>