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

Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Cooking classes on Saturday mornings teach you our favourite recipes. Children are always welcome, with a menu made just for them. Private dining rooms seat up to forty guests for birthdays and business dinners.

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-lg p-2 bg-surface-3" style="height:100px">
      Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Cooking classes on Saturday mornings teach you our favourite recipes. Children are always welcome, with a menu made just for them. Private dining rooms seat up to forty guests for birthdays and business dinners.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-hidden</code>
    <div class="overflow-hidden border rounded-lg p-2 bg-surface-3" style="height:100px">
      Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Cooking classes on Saturday mornings teach you our favourite recipes. Children are always welcome, with a menu made just for them. Private dining rooms seat up to forty guests for birthdays and business dinners.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-visible</code>
    <div class="overflow-visible border rounded-lg p-2 bg-surface-3 mb-12" style="height:100px">
      Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Cooking classes on Saturday mornings teach you our favourite recipes. Children are always welcome, with a menu made just for them. Private dining rooms seat up to forty guests for birthdays and business dinners.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6 col-md-3">
    <code>overflow-scroll</code>
    <div class="overflow-scroll border rounded-lg p-2 bg-surface-3" style="height:100px">
      Every detail is handled by people who care about getting it right. Cooking classes on Saturday mornings teach you our favourite recipes. Children are always welcome, with a menu made just for them. Private dining rooms seat up to forty guests for birthdays and business dinners.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2Horizontal scroll only

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

Takeaway

Cooking classes

Catering

<div class="flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-2">
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Takeaway
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Cooking classes
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Cooking classes
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Catering
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border rounded-lg p-4 shrink-0" style="width:160px">
    <div class="font-semibold small">
      Catering
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

3Vertical scroll only

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

Sofia Duarte
Nadia Silva
Mia Delgado
Maya Haddad
Nora Kim
Felix Okafor

<ul class="list-unstyled border rounded-lg overflow-y-auto mb-0" style="max-height:150px">
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Sofia Duarte</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Nadia Silva</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Mia Delgado</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Maya Haddad</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2 border-b">Nora Kim</li>
  <li class="px-4 py-2">Felix Okafor</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-xl">
      <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517248135467-4c7edcad34c4?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&h=800&q=70" alt="Not clipped" class="w-full block">
      <div class="p-2 small">
        without
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-6">
    <div class="border rounded-xl overflow-hidden">
      <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1565895405140-6b9830a88c19?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&h=800&q=70" alt="Clipped" class="w-full 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
#INV-7878	Kenji Novak	Prague	Jul 8, 2026	Approved	$727.58
#PO-2084	Elena Brennan	Singapore	Sep 19, 2026	Completed	$514.62

<div class="overflow-x-auto border rounded-lg">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 whitespace-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>#INV-7878</td>
        <td>Kenji Novak</td>
        <td>Prague</td>
        <td>Jul 8, 2026</td>
        <td>Approved</td>
        <td>$727.58</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>#PO-2084</td>
        <td>Elena Brennan</td>
        <td>Singapore</td>
        <td>Sep 19, 2026</td>
        <td>Completed</td>
        <td>$514.62</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/yaraly-labs --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir

<pre class="overflow-x-auto bg-surface-3 border rounded-lg p-4 small mb-0"><code>npm run build -- --mode production --out-dir dist/yaraly-labs --base ./ --sourcemap false --emptyOutDir</code></pre>

7Chat window

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

Our sommelier has paired each dish with wines from small family vineyards.

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

Book a table online in seconds, or call us for groups of eight or more.

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

<div class="border rounded-xl flex flex-col" style="height:220px;max-width:22rem">
  <div class="overflow-y-auto p-4 flex flex-col gap-2 grow">
    <div class="self-start bg-surface-3 rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      Our sommelier has paired each dish with wines from small family vineyards.
    </div>
    <div class="self-end text-bg-primary rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      We measure success by how many guests come back and tell their friends.
    </div>
    <div class="self-start bg-surface-3 rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      Book a table online in seconds, or call us for groups of eight or more.
    </div>
    <div class="self-end text-bg-primary rounded-lg px-2 py-1 small">
      Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="border-t p-2">
    <label class="sr-only" 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="flex flex-nowrap gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1" aria-label="Categories">
  <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-primary rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">All</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">Drinks</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">how-to</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">Starters</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">community</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">experience</a> <a href="#" class="btn btn-sm btn-light border rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">calm</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. Thousands of guests already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email. Bread is baked every morning and pasta is rolled by hand in our kitchen.

Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess. Our menu changes with the seasons and the best produce from nearby farms. Our terrace is open from spring to autumn, with heaters for cooler evenings.

Every dish is cooked to order, so tell us if you would like anything changed. Thousands of guests already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.

<div class="border rounded-lg p-4 overflow-auto small bg-surface-3" style="height:130px">
  <h3 class="h6">Terms of use</h3>
  <p>Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way. Thousands of guests already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Friendly people answer your questions quickly, by phone, chat or email. Bread is baked every morning and pasta is rolled by hand in our kitchen.</p>
  <p>Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess. Our menu changes with the seasons and the best produce from nearby farms. Our terrace is open from spring to autumn, with heaters for cooler evenings.</p>
  <p class="mb-0">Every dish is cooked to order, so tell us if you would like anything changed. Thousands of guests already trust us, and we work hard to keep it that way. Start in minutes and get help from a real person whenever you need it.</p>
</div>

10Visible overflow for a badge

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

overflow-hidden2

overflow-visible7

<div class="flex gap-6 pt-2">
  <div class="relative overflow-hidden border rounded-lg p-4 small">
    overflow-hidden<span class="absolute top-0 start-full -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 badge rounded-full text-bg-danger">2</span>
  </div>
  <div class="relative overflow-visible border rounded-lg p-4 small">
    overflow-visible<span class="absolute top-0 start-full -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 badge rounded-full text-bg-danger">7</span>
  </div>
</div>

11Hidden overflow for a cropped title

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

Wood-fired, slow-cooked, unforgettable - Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.

Sep 3, 2026

<div class="border rounded-lg p-4" style="max-width:20rem">
  <div class="overflow-hidden font-semibold leading-tight" style="height:2.5em">
    Wood-fired, slow-cooked, unforgettable - Clear prices, honest advice and no surprises along the way.
  </div>
  <div class="small text-muted mt-1">
    Sep 3, 2026
  </div>
</div>

12Sidebar that scrolls separately

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

Our menu changes with the seasons and the best produce from nearby farms. Children are always welcome, with a menu made just for them.

<div class="flex border rounded-lg" style="height:180px">
  <nav class="overflow-y-auto border-e p-2 small shrink-0" style="width:130px" aria-label="Chapters">
    <a href="#" class="block py-1">Intro</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Setup</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Layout</a> <a href="#" class="block py-1">Colours</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Forms</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Tables</a> <a href="#" class="block py-1">Charts</a><a href="#" class="block py-1">Deploy</a> 
  </nav>
  <div class="p-4 small">
    Our menu changes with the seasons and the best produce from nearby farms. Children are always welcome, with a menu made just for them.
  </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-lg" style="height:160px;max-width:26rem">
  <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517248135467-4c7edcad34c4?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&h=700&q=70" alt="What is new on our winter menu" width="900" height="394" class="block"> 
</div>

14Kanban columns

Columns side by side in overflow-x-auto, each column scrolls with overflow-y-auto.

To do

Catering

Takeaway

Dine-in

Doing

Catering

Done

Dine-in

<div class="flex gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1">
  <div class="bg-surface-3 rounded-lg p-2 shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small font-semibold mb-2">
      To do
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small mb-2">
      Catering
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small mb-2">
      Takeaway
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small">
      Dine-in
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-surface-3 rounded-lg p-2 shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small font-semibold mb-2">
      Doing
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small">
      Catering
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="bg-surface-3 rounded-lg p-2 shrink-0 overflow-y-auto" style="width:170px;max-height:180px">
    <div class="small font-semibold mb-2">
      Done
    </div>
    <div class="bg-page border rounded-md p-2 small">
      Dine-in
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

15Overflow-x hidden

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

Book a table online in seconds, or call us for groups of eight or more.

Panel partly off the edge

<div class="relative overflow-x-hidden border rounded-lg p-4" style="height:110px">
  <div class="small">
    Book a table online in seconds, or call us for groups of eight or more.
  </div>
  <div class="absolute top-0 bg-primary-subtle h-full 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.

Our terrace is open from spring to autumn, with heaters for cooler evenings.

<div class="overflow-y-scroll border rounded-lg p-2 small" style="height:90px">
  Our terrace is open from spring to autumn, with heaters for cooler evenings.
</div>

17Notification panel

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

Notifications

We have been feeding this neighbourhood for over a decade, and we still love it.

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

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

Order for pickup or delivery and enjoy the same dishes at home.

View all

<div class="border rounded-lg shadow-sm flex flex-col" style="max-width:20rem;height:220px">
  <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b font-semibold small">
    Notifications
  </div>
  <div class="overflow-y-auto grow">
    <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b small">
      We have been feeding this neighbourhood for over a decade, and we still love it.
    </div>
    <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b small">
      We measure success by how many guests come back and tell their friends.
    </div>
    <div class="px-4 py-2 border-b small">
      Our team has done this many times, so you never have to guess.
    </div>
    <div class="px-4 py-2 small">
      Order for pickup or delivery and enjoy the same dishes at home.
    </div>
  </div>
  <a href="#" class="px-4 py-2 border-t small text-center">View all</a> 
</div>

18Clip a decorative shape

A big circle partly outside its panel is cut off by overflow-hidden.

Come hungry, leave happy

Bread is baked every morning and pasta is rolled by hand in our kitchen.

<div class="relative overflow-hidden text-bg-primary rounded-xl p-6">
  <div class="absolute bg-white/25 rounded-full" style="width:180px;height:180px;right:-60px;top:-60px">
  </div>
  <h3 class="h5 relative">Come hungry, leave happy</h3>
  <p class="small mb-0 relative">Bread is baked every morning and pasta is rolled by hand in our kitchen.</p>
</div>

19Long word handling

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

downloads/yaraly-labs/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-lg p-2 truncate">
      downloads/yaraly-labs/assets/very-long-file-name-without-any-spaces-at-all.zip
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-sm-6">
    <div class="border rounded-lg p-2 break-words">
      downloads/yaraly-labs/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	36	437 GB	Email and chat	Unlimited	$61.56

<div class="table-responsive border rounded-lg">
  <table class="table table-sm mb-0 whitespace-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>36</td>
        <td>437 GB</td>
        <td>Email and chat</td>
        <td>Unlimited</td>
        <td>$61.56</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>