overflow-block

The overflow-block CSS property sets what shows when content overflows the block start and block end edges of a box. This may be nothing, a scroll bar, or the overflow content.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
overflow-block: visible;
overflow-block: hidden;
overflow-block: scroll;
overflow-block: auto;

/* Global values */
overflow-block: inherit;
overflow-block: initial;
overflow-block: unset;

The overflow-block property is specified as a single keyword chosen from the list of values below.

Values

visible

Content is not clipped and may be rendered outside the padding box's block start and block end edges.

hidden

Content is clipped if necessary to fit the block dimension in the padding box. No scrollbars are provided.

scroll

Content is clipped if necessary to fit in the block dimension in the padding box. Browsers display scrollbars whether or not any content is actually clipped. (This prevents scrollbars from appearing or disappearing when the content changes.) Printers may still print overflowing content.

auto

Depends on the user agent. If content fits inside the padding box, it looks the same as visible, but still establishes a new block-formatting context. Desktop browsers provide scrollbars if content overflows.

Formal definition

Formal syntax

visible | hidden | clip | scroll | auto

Examples

HTML

<ul>
  <li><code>overflow-block:hidden</code> — hides the text outside the box
  <div id="div1">
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
    </div>
  </li>

  <li><code>overflow-block:scroll</code> — always adds a scrollbar
  <div id="div2">
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
    </div>
  </li>

  <li><code>overflow-block:visible</code> — displays the text outside the box if needed
  <div id="div3">
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
    </div>
  </li>

  <li><code>overflow-block:auto</code> — on most browser, equivalent to <code>scroll</code>
  <div id="div4">
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
    </div>
  </li>
</ul>

CSS

#div1,
#div2,
#div3,
#div4 {
  border: 1px solid black;
  width:  250px;
  height: 100px;
}

#div1 { overflow-block: hidden; margin-bottom: 120px;}
#div2 { overflow-block: scroll; margin-bottom: 120px;}
#div3 { overflow-block: visible; margin-bottom: 120px;}
#div4 { overflow-block: auto; margin-bottom: 120px;}

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• Related CSS properties: text-overflow, white-space, overflow, overflow-inline, overflow-x, overflow-y, clip, display
• CSS Logical Properties
• Writing Modes