What is the CSS overflow property and how does it work?

Benjamin C

The CSSoverflow property is used to control the behavior of content that overflows the boundaries of its containing element. It determines how the content is displayed when it exceeds the allocated space within the container. Theoverflow property can take several values, each with its own effect: 1.visible (default): - This value allows content to overflow its container without any clipping or scrollbars. - Content that exceeds the container's dimensions will be fully visible and may overlap with other elements. 2.hidden: - Withoverflow: hidden, any content that exceeds the container's dimensions will be clipped and not visible. - It effectively hides the overflowed content. 3.scroll: - Whenoverflow: scroll is applied, scrollbars are always visible within the container, regardless of whether there is content overflow or not. - If there is no content overflow, the scrollbars will be disabled. - Users can scroll the content within the container using the scrollbars. 4.auto: - This value enables automatic scrolling behavior based on the content overflow. - If there is no content overflow, the scrollbars will be disabled. - If the content exceeds the container's dimensions, scrollbars will be displayed, allowing users to scroll the content. 5.overlay: - Theoverflow: overlay value is similar toauto, but it provides a more subtle approach for scrollbars. - Scrollbars are displayed only when scrolling is necessary, and they overlay the content without affecting the layout or dimensions of the container. It's important to note that theoverflow property applies to block-level elements (such asdiv orsection) and elements withdisplay: inline-block. It does not apply to inline elements by default. Theoverflow property is often used in conjunction with thewidth andheight properties to define the dimensions of the container and how the overflowed content should be handled. It provides control over the visibility and accessibility of content that extends beyond the boundaries of its container. By utilizing theoverflow property, you can effectively manage overflowed content, control scrolling behavior, and ensure a more controlled presentation of elements within a container.