What is the relationship between `overflow:hidden` and the inability of `position:sticky` to function properly?

Question

What is the relationship between `overflow:hidden` and the inability of `position:sticky` to function properly?

Within the code snippet provided, there is a sticky div positioned inside a container. It adheres to the top of the scrolling panel while remaining within its designated container at all times. This mimics the behavior seen in iOS' UITableView headers, where headers stay visible until the next header reaches the top.

In the second example, everything remains consistent except for the fact that the container has an overflow:hidden CSS rule. This seemingly hinders the proper function of the position:sticky property.

.parent {
  position: relative;
  background: #ccc;
  width: 500px;
  height: 150px;
  overflow: auto;
  margin-bottom: 20px;
}

.hidden-overflow {
  overflow: hidden;
}

.sticky {
  position: sticky;
  background: #333;
  text-align: center;
  color: #fff;
  top: 10px;
}

<div class="parent">
  <div>
    <div class = "sticky">
      Hi, I am a sticky element inside the container which contains the first paragraph.
    </div>
    <p>
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit...

_{(Extract taken from @Daniel's post on here)}

What causes position:sticky to malfunction when applied in a container with overflow:hidden?

css css-position

Answer 1

Answer №1

Several years have passed since the initial posting of this question, introducing a new method for concealing overflowing content:

contain: paint;

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/contain

Answer 2

Several years have passed since the initial posting of this question, introducing a new method for concealing overflowing content:

contain: paint;

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/contain

Answer 3

Answer №2

overflow: hidden does not inhibit the functionality of position: sticky. However, if you apply overflow: hidden to any parent element of your sticky element, that parent element will serve as the scrolling container for your sticky element. If you change the overflow property of the parent element from hidden to scroll and scroll this parent (not the window), you will observe that the sticky behavior still persists.

For more information, visit https://github.com/wilddeer/stickyfill#pro-tips:

Any non-default value (other than visible) for overflow, overflow-x, or overflow-y on any of the ancestor elements anchors the sticky element to the overflow context of that ancestor. In simple terms, scrolling the ancestor will trigger the sticky behavior, while scrolling the window will not. This behavior is expected with overflow: auto and overflow: scroll, but it may lead to issues and confusion with overflow: hidden.

Alternatively, refer to :

The positioning of the box depends on its containing block (defined as for position:static) as well as its scrolling container, determined by the closest ancestor in the same document with a computed value for 'overflow-x' or 'overflow-y' other than 'visible', or the viewport if no such ancestor exists.

Or consult the CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3 W3C Working Draft:

A stickily positioned box is placed similarly to a relatively positioned box, but the offset is calculated relative to the nearest ancestor with a scrolling box, or the viewport if no ancestor contains a scrolling box.

Answer 4

overflow: hidden does not inhibit the functionality of position: sticky. However, if you apply overflow: hidden to any parent element of your sticky element, that parent element will serve as the scrolling container for your sticky element. If you change the overflow property of the parent element from hidden to scroll and scroll this parent (not the window), you will observe that the sticky behavior still persists.

For more information, visit https://github.com/wilddeer/stickyfill#pro-tips:

Any non-default value (other than visible) for overflow, overflow-x, or overflow-y on any of the ancestor elements anchors the sticky element to the overflow context of that ancestor. In simple terms, scrolling the ancestor will trigger the sticky behavior, while scrolling the window will not. This behavior is expected with overflow: auto and overflow: scroll, but it may lead to issues and confusion with overflow: hidden.

Alternatively, refer to :

The positioning of the box depends on its containing block (defined as for position:static) as well as its scrolling container, determined by the closest ancestor in the same document with a computed value for 'overflow-x' or 'overflow-y' other than 'visible', or the viewport if no such ancestor exists.

Or consult the CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3 W3C Working Draft:

A stickily positioned box is placed similarly to a relatively positioned box, but the offset is calculated relative to the nearest ancestor with a scrolling box, or the viewport if no ancestor contains a scrolling box.

Answer 5

Answer №3

While troubleshooting an issue, I came across a different approach that worked for me. Instead of using overflow: hidden, I tried using overflow: clip. It seems like they function similarly, but with clip, the anchor point of the sticky element remains unaffected. The only downside is that browser support for overflow: clip is limited to around 80% as of November 2022: https://caniuse.com/mdn-css_properties_overflow_clip

Answer 6

While troubleshooting an issue, I came across a different approach that worked for me. Instead of using overflow: hidden, I tried using overflow: clip. It seems like they function similarly, but with clip, the anchor point of the sticky element remains unaffected. The only downside is that browser support for overflow: clip is limited to around 80% as of November 2022: https://caniuse.com/mdn-css_properties_overflow_clip

Answer 7

Answer №4

I encountered a similar problem recently and found a solution by substituting overflow: hidden; with the use of clip-paths.

.container {
    /*overflow: hidden; removed */
    position: absolute; /*this is necessary for clip-paths to function properly*/
    -webkit-clip-path: inset(0); /*for Safari compatibility*/
    clip-path: inset(0);
    clip: rect(0px, auto, auto, 0px); /* For IE11/Edge browsers (although IE11 does not support sticky positioning anyway) */
}

To address the need for adding position absolute, you can enclose the overflow:hidden element within another element with position: relative, and then define top, bottom, left, and right as 0 to ensure it fills its parent container completely.

Answer 8

I encountered a similar problem recently and found a solution by substituting overflow: hidden; with the use of clip-paths.

.container {
    /*overflow: hidden; removed */
    position: absolute; /*this is necessary for clip-paths to function properly*/
    -webkit-clip-path: inset(0); /*for Safari compatibility*/
    clip-path: inset(0);
    clip: rect(0px, auto, auto, 0px); /* For IE11/Edge browsers (although IE11 does not support sticky positioning anyway) */
}

To address the need for adding position absolute, you can enclose the overflow:hidden element within another element with position: relative, and then define top, bottom, left, and right as 0 to ensure it fills its parent container completely.

Answer 9

Answer №5

Due to the fact that setting overflow: hidden actually establishes a scroll container (even though the scrollbar is invisible and inaccessible to the user), your position: sticky element becomes anchored to it, resulting in it not functioning as intended.

Interestingly, it does work, but not in the manner you might have anticipated.

.overflow-hidden-container {
  overflow: hidden;
  height: 100px;
  border: 1px solid grey
}

<div class="overflow-hidden-container">
  <div style="margin-top: -10px"></div>
  <div style="position: sticky; top: 0;">
    sticky
  </div>
</div>
<div class="overflow-hidden-container">
  <div style="margin-top: -10px"></div>
  <div>
    non sticky
  </div>
</div>

In this scenario, we are utilizing negative margin on the preceding element to shift the text outside of the viewport. Text without sticky functionality is evidently cropped out due to its displacement. However, text with sticky remains unaffected.

The suggestion of using overflow: clip, as mentioned in another response, serves as a modern substitute for overflow: hidden. The key distinction lies in the fact that overflow: clip does not generate a scroll container, enabling it to potentially resolve the issue of position sticky being affixed to an incorrect element.

Answer 10

Due to the fact that setting overflow: hidden actually establishes a scroll container (even though the scrollbar is invisible and inaccessible to the user), your position: sticky element becomes anchored to it, resulting in it not functioning as intended.

Interestingly, it does work, but not in the manner you might have anticipated.

.overflow-hidden-container {
  overflow: hidden;
  height: 100px;
  border: 1px solid grey
}

<div class="overflow-hidden-container">
  <div style="margin-top: -10px"></div>
  <div style="position: sticky; top: 0;">
    sticky
  </div>
</div>
<div class="overflow-hidden-container">
  <div style="margin-top: -10px"></div>
  <div>
    non sticky
  </div>
</div>

In this scenario, we are utilizing negative margin on the preceding element to shift the text outside of the viewport. Text without sticky functionality is evidently cropped out due to its displacement. However, text with sticky remains unaffected.

The suggestion of using overflow: clip, as mentioned in another response, serves as a modern substitute for overflow: hidden. The key distinction lies in the fact that overflow: clip does not generate a scroll container, enabling it to potentially resolve the issue of position sticky being affixed to an incorrect element.

What is the relationship between `overflow:hidden` and the inability of `position:sticky` to function properly?

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

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