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

Community events keep you motivated, from fun runs to workshops. Nutrition plans fit your routine and the food you actually enjoy. Certified coaches design every session around your level and your goals. Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.

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">
      Community events keep you motivated, from fun runs to workshops. Nutrition plans fit your routine and the food you actually enjoy. Certified coaches design every session around your level and your goals. Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.
    </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">
      Community events keep you motivated, from fun runs to workshops. Nutrition plans fit your routine and the food you actually enjoy. Certified coaches design every session around your level and your goals. Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.
    </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">
      Community events keep you motivated, from fun runs to workshops. Nutrition plans fit your routine and the food you actually enjoy. Certified coaches design every session around your level and your goals. Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.
    </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">
      Community events keep you motivated, from fun runs to workshops. Nutrition plans fit your routine and the food you actually enjoy. Certified coaches design every session around your level and your goals. Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

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

Nutrition plans

Yoga

Recovery spa

<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">
      Nutrition plans
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Nutrition plans
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Nutrition plans
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Yoga
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-3 p-3 flex-shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="fw-semibold small">
      Recovery spa
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

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

Omar Hughes
Noah Okafor
Kai Lindqvist
Ella Harlow
Arjun Carter
Diego Mensah

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-3 overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Omar Hughes</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Noah Okafor</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Kai Lindqvist</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Ella Harlow</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2 border-bottom">Arjun Carter</li>
  <li class="px-3 py-2">Diego Mensah</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-1517836357463-d25dfeac3438?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-1761839258420-5c3e2f2e2a74?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-4574	Owen Novak	Austin	Jul 11, 2026	Draft	$241.37
#INV-3360	Lucas Kim	Kyoto	Jul 3, 2026	Active	$594.56

<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-4574</td>
        <td>Owen Novak</td>
        <td>Austin</td>
        <td>Jul 11, 2026</td>
        <td>Draft</td>
        <td>$241.37</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#INV-3360</td>
        <td>Lucas Kim</td>
        <td>Kyoto</td>
        <td>Jul 3, 2026</td>
        <td>Active</td>
        <td>$594.56</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/rallyova-craft --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/rallyova-craft --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

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

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

Small group classes mean your coach knows your name and your form.

Online coaching keeps you on track when you travel.

More than sixty classes a week, from sunrise yoga to late-night spin.

<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">
      Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Small group classes mean your coach knows your name and your form.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-start bg-body-tertiary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      Online coaching keeps you on track when you travel.
    </div>
    <div class="align-self-end text-bg-primary rounded-3 px-2 py-1 small">
      More than sixty classes a week, from sunrise yoga to late-night spin.
    </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">Yoga</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">Strength</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">project</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

Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Beginners are always welcome, with an intro session included. Pause or change your membership any time, with no long contracts.

We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you. Our recovery spa has a sauna, cold plunge and massage rooms. Track your progress in the app and see how far you have come. We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.

Thousands of members already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Open 24 hours, so you can train whenever it suits your day. Beginners are always welcome, with an intro session included.

<div class="border rounded-3 p-3 overflow-auto small bg-body-tertiary" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Beginners are always welcome, with an intro session included. Pause or change your membership any time, with no long contracts.</p>
  <p>We keep things simple, so you can focus on what matters to you. Our recovery spa has a sauna, cold plunge and massage rooms. Track your progress in the app and see how far you have come. We listen first, then build a plan around what you actually need.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">Thousands of members already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Open 24 hours, so you can train whenever it suits your day. Beginners are always welcome, with an intro session included.</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-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">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">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.

Fitness for every body - We measure success by how many members come back and tell their friends.

Apr 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">
    Fitness for every body - We measure success by how many members come back and tell their friends.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-body-secondary mt-1">
    Apr 12, 2026
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

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

Online coaching keeps you on track when you travel. Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.

<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">
    Online coaching keeps you on track when you travel. Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right.
  </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-1689877020200-403d8542d95d?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&h=700&q=70" alt="Five stretches for desk workers" 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

Group classes

Recovery spa

Doing

Nutrition plans

Done

Recovery spa

<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">
      Group classes
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small mb-2">
      Group classes
    </div>
    <div class="bg-body border rounded-2 p-2 small">
      Recovery spa
    </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">
      Nutrition plans
    </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">
      Recovery spa
    </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.

Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-3 p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.
</div>

17Notification panel

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

Notifications

Small group classes mean your coach knows your name and your form.

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

Track your progress in the app and see how far you have come.

Modern equipment is cleaned, serviced and ready every day.

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">
      Small group classes mean your coach knows your name and your form.
    </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 border-bottom small">
      Track your progress in the app and see how far you have come.
    </div>
    <div class="px-3 py-2 small">
      Modern equipment is cleaned, serviced and ready every day.
    </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.

Feel at home in your gym

Community events keep you motivated, from fun runs to workshops.

<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">Feel at home in your gym</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 position-relative">Community events keep you motivated, from fun runs to workshops.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

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

downloads/rallyova-craft/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/rallyova-craft/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/rallyova-craft/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	23	176 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$20.21

<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>23</td>
        <td>176 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$20.21</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>