I'm having trouble figuring out how to make a container scroll overflow based on dynamic values instead of fixed dimensions. I have a layout with a sidebar on the left that can sometimes push my main content off-screen depending on the screen size. The minimum width for my scrollable container is currently determined when the sidebar is closed. How can I adjust this so it accounts for when the sidebar is open?
Here's a simplified structure of my layout:
As the sidebar toggles, the main section resizes accordingly. Should I set the min-width of the ScrollableContainer to match the width of the main section, or maybe use a calculation like calc(screen width - sidebar width)? I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks! <3
3 Answers
While I think these suggestions are solid, I also recommend checking out Claude Code if you haven’t yet. This tool really excels in handling layout problems and can provide some great insights!
I've faced this same situation! The best approach I've found is using calc() with either flexbox or grid. Instead of a fixed width, you could try setting your ScrollableContainer's width to something like width: calc(100vw - [sidebar width]). When your sidebar toggles, you can adjust that value dynamically with a CSS variable. This way, your layout updates naturally without being locked to fixed sizes!
To tackle your issue, you might want to use CSS Grid or Flexbox to structure your layout without fixed sizes. Set your ScrollableContainer to position: relative, and create a child with position: absolute and overflow: auto. This way, your scrolling content will work perfectly without needing a fixed height or width. It's a clean solution!
I appreciate that suggestion! I hadn't thought about absolute positioning for the content. Makes a lot of sense to use inset for positioning instead of offset.