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 test early with real users, so the final design works on the first day. Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update.

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 test early with real users, so the final design works on the first day. Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update.
    </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 test early with real users, so the final design works on the first day. Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update.
    </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 test early with real users, so the final design works on the first day. Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update.
    </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 test early with real users, so the final design works on the first day. Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Fixed prices and weekly demos keep you in control from start to finish. Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

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

UX research

Content strategy

Campaign production

Web design

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">
      Content strategy
    </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">
      Web design
    </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.

Isla Patel
Chloe Ibrahim
Elena Hughes
Owen Rossi
Ruby Kim
Diego Whitaker

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-3 overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Isla Patel</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Chloe Ibrahim</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Elena Hughes</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Owen Rossi</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ruby Kim</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2">Diego Whitaker</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
#TX-4461	Mia Mensah	Barcelona	Aug 26, 2026	Pending	$486.06
#PO-3344	Amara Carter	Edinburgh	Feb 15, 2026	Pending	$613.82

<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-4461</td>
        <td>Mia Mensah</td>
        <td>Barcelona</td>
        <td>Aug 26, 2026</td>
        <td>Pending</td>
        <td>$486.06</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#PO-3344</td>
        <td>Amara Carter</td>
        <td>Edinburgh</td>
        <td>Feb 15, 2026</td>
        <td>Pending</td>
        <td>$613.82</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/nova-flow --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir

<pre v-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/nova-flow --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.

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

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

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

<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">
      Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Thousands of clients already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way.
    </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>
  <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">Motion</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">news</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">Print</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">tutorial</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">launch</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-pill text-nowrap">practical</a> 
</nav>

9Terms box

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

Terms of use

We measure success by how many clients come back and tell their friends. Every project starts with a workshop, so we understand your audience before we design. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.

Small teams, short feedback loops and no handoffs lost in translation. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email. From logo to launch campaign, everything is designed to work together.

We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you. We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards. Our motion team turns complex ideas into short films people actually watch. We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.

<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 measure success by how many clients come back and tell their friends. Every project starts with a workshop, so we understand your audience before we design. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.</p>
  <p>Small teams, short feedback loops and no handoffs lost in translation. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email. From logo to launch campaign, everything is designed to work together.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you. We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards. Our motion team turns complex ideas into short films people actually watch. We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.</p>
</div>

10Visible overflow for a badge

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

overflow-hidden9

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">9</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.

We make good brands great - Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.

Dec 13, 2025

<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 - Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-body-secondary mt-1">
    Dec 13, 2025
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

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

We combine strategy, design and technology to build brands that grow. 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">
    We combine strategy, design and technology to build brands that grow. 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-1752650736252-dff5244c8a7a?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&h=700&q=70" alt="Five things we learned 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

UX research

Campaign production

Motion graphics

Doing

Content strategy

Done

Web design

<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">
      UX research
    </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">
      Motion graphics
    </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">
      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">
      Done
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Web design
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

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

We test early with real users, so the final design works on the first day.

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="position-relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-3 p-3" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    We test early with real users, so the final design works on the first day.
  </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.

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

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  We measure success by how many clients come back and tell their friends.
</div>

17Notification panel

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

Notifications

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

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

Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.

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

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">
      We measure success in sign-ups, sales and brand recall, not just awards.
    </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">
      Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 small">
      Websites we build are fast, accessible and easy for your team to update.
    </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.

Digital products with personality

From logo to launch campaign, everything is designed to work together.

<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">Digital products with personality</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 position-relative">From logo to launch campaign, everything is designed to work together.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

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

downloads/nova-flow/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/nova-flow/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/nova-flow/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	8	52 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$75.56

<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>8</td>
        <td>52 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$75.56</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>