overflow-x

Definition

The "overflow-x" property is a CSS property that specifies how to handle content that overflows the horizontal width of an element's content area. It allows developers to control whether the browser should display a horizontal scroll bar, truncate the content, or clip the content.

Examples

Using "overflow-x" with the "visible" value. With this CSS, any content that overflows the horizontal width of the <div> element's content area will be visible, even if it extends beyond the boundaries of its container:

  div {
  overflow-x: visible;
}

Using "overflow-x" with the "hidden" value. With this CSS, any content that overflows the horizontal width of the <div> element's content area will be clipped and not visible to the user:

div {
  overflow-x: hidden;
}

Using "overflow-x" with the "scroll" value. With this CSS, a horizontal scroll bar will appear for the <div> element if any content overflows its content area, allowing the user to scroll horizontally to view the overflowed content.

  div {
  overflow-x: scroll;
}

Values

Best Practices

• Use "overflow-x: hidden" to prevent horizontal overflow from extending beyond the boundaries of its container and interfering with other page elements.
• Use "overflow-x: scroll" only when necessary, such as when the content is wider than the available screen space or the element's container is a fixed width.
• Avoid using "overflow-x: visible" except when necessary, as it can cause horizontal overflow to extend beyond the element's container and interfere with other page elements.
• Be mindful of the impact of "overflow-x" on the layout and readability of your content, especially in narrow or responsive containers.
• Use a CSS preprocessor or utility class to apply "overflow-x" consistently across your project.

Browser Compatibility