CSS Overflow

The CSS overflow property is used to control how content that overflows the boundaries of an element is displayed. It is particularly useful when dealing with elements that have fixed dimensions or when you want to create scrolling effects.

The overflow property can take one of the following values:

1. visible (default): Content that overflows the element’s boundaries is displayed outside the element without any clipping. This means the overflowing content will be visible even if it extends beyond the container’s dimensions.
2. hidden: Content that overflows the element’s boundaries is clipped and not displayed. The content that exceeds the element’s dimensions will be hidden.
3. scroll: The element provides a scrollbar to view the overflowing content. If the content overflows, the scrollbar will appear, allowing users to scroll and view the hidden content.
4. auto: Similar to scroll, this value also adds a scrollbar if the content overflows. However, if the content does not overflow, no scrollbar will be displayed.
5. overlay: This value behaves like auto, but it adds a scrollbar only when needed. If the content does not overflow, no scrollbar will be displayed. When the scrollbar appears, it overlays the content, not affecting the element’s dimensions.

Example:

.container {
  width: 200px;
  height: 100px;
  overflow: scroll;
}

In this example, the .container element has a fixed width and height of 200px and 100px, respectively. The overflow property is set to scroll, which adds a scrollbar to the element if its content exceeds these dimensions.

The overflow property is useful for various scenarios, such as creating scrollable containers, hiding content that exceeds certain boundaries, and controlling how elements handle overflowing content.

Additionally, it’s essential to use overflow thoughtfully to ensure good user experience and accessibility. Be cautious when using overflow: hidden as it can lead to hidden or inaccessible content, which may impact usability. Always consider how overflow affects the layout and functionality of your web page, and test your designs on different devices and browsers to ensure consistency.