Skip to main content

CSS overscroll behavior

The CSS overscroll behavior module provides properties to control the behavior of a {{Glossary("Scroll_container", "scroll container")}} when its scroll position reaches the {{Glossary("Scroll_boundary", "scroll boundary")}}. Controlling this aspect is particularly useful in scenarios where embedded scrollable areas should not trigger scrolling of the parent container.

When commenting on a blog, you might notice that if your comment exceeds the length of the provided {{htmlelement("textarea")}}, scrolling beyond the end of the text area causes the entire blog to scroll. This is because reaching the end of a scrollable area, known as the {{Glossary("Scroll_boundary", "scroll boundary")}}, can lead to scrolling other content or the entire page. This continuous scrolling experience is called {{Glossary("Scroll_chaining", "scroll chaining")}}.

In situations where the contents of an element are larger than its container and {{cssxref("overflow")}} allows or defaults to scrolling (like in <textarea>), continued scrolling past the element's scrollable area will initiate scrolling in the parent element or the underlying page.

Conversely, scrolling through a website's terms and conditions and reaching the end of the content to enable a checkbox, may not force the page to scroll or bounce (as on a phone). This example shows that you can control overscroll behavior and prevent scroll chaining.

This module defines the overscroll behavior, enabling you to specify the actions when a user scrolls beyond the boundaries of a scrollable element.

Reference​

CSS properties​

  • {{CSSxRef("overscroll-behavior")}} shorthand
  • {{CSSxRef("overscroll-behavior-block")}}
  • {{CSSxRef("overscroll-behavior-inline")}}
  • {{CSSxRef("overscroll-behavior-x")}}
  • {{CSSxRef("overscroll-behavior-y")}}

Glossary terms​

  • {{Glossary("Scroll_boundary", "Scroll boundary")}}
  • {{Glossary("Scroll_chaining", "Scroll chaining")}}

Guides​

  • scrollbar ARIA role

  • Containing block concept

  • CSS overflow module:

    • {{cssxref("overflow")}} shorthand property
      • {{Cssxref("overflow-x")}}
      • {{Cssxref("overflow-y")}}
      • {{CSSxRef("overflow-block")}}
      • {{CSSxRef("overflow-inline")}}
    • {{CSSxRef("overflow-clip-margin")}} property
    • {{CSSxRef("scroll-behavior")}} property
    • {{CSSxRef("text-overflow")}} property

  • {{Glossary("Scroll_container", "Scroll container")}} and scrollport glossary terms

  • CSS scroll snap module:

    • {{cssxref("scroll-padding")}} shorthand property
    • {{cssxref("scroll-snap-type")}} property
    • {{cssxref("scroll-margin")}} shorthand property
    • {{cssxref("scroll-snap-stop")}} property
    • {{cssxref("scroll-snap-align")}} property

  • CSSOM view module:

    • {{domxref("Element.getBoundingClientRect()")}} method
    • {{domxref("Element.scroll()")}} method
    • {{domxref("Element.scrollBy()")}} method
    • {{domxref("Element.scrollIntoView()")}} method
    • {{domxref("Element.scrollTo()")}} method
    • {{domxref("Document.scroll_event", "scroll")}} Document event

Specifications​

See also​