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How can I make the Shadcn/UI ScrollArea take full width and add a scroll when the content overflows?

Authors
  • Name
    Ripal & Zalak
    Twitter

When working on a Next.js project using Shadcn/UI, handling overflowing content inside a ScrollArea component can be tricky. Here's how to make the ScrollArea component take the full width of its container and enable horizontal scrolling when the content overflows.

Problem

You have a ScrollArea wrapping a Table component, and despite using white-space: nowrap and overflow-x-auto, the Table overflows instead of scrolling horizontally.

<div className="w-full">
  {/* FIXME Fix horizontal scroll  */}
  <ScrollArea className="w-full overflow-x-auto">
    <div className="w-full whitespace-nowrap">
      <Table className="relative min-w-full">{/* ... table content ... */}</Table>
    </div>
  </ScrollArea>
</div>

Expected Behavior

  • The ScrollArea should add a horizontal scrollbar when content overflows.
  • The Table should remain within the bounds of the ScrollArea.

Actual Behavior

  • The Table overflows the ScrollArea, making some content inaccessible.

Solution

Here are the steps to resolve the issue and ensure proper scrolling:

1. Add a Horizontal Scrollbar

Update the code to include a ScrollBar component within the ScrollArea. This enables proper horizontal scrolling.

<div className="w-full">
  <ScrollArea className="w-full overflow-x-auto">
    <div className="w-full whitespace-nowrap">
      <Table className="relative min-w-full">{/* ... table content ... */}</Table>
    </div>
    <ScrollBar orientation="horizontal" />
  </ScrollArea>
</div>

2. Use flex Utility Classes for Parent Container

Adding a flex utility class ensures that the ScrollArea correctly resizes based on its parent.

<div className="flex">
  <ScrollArea type="always" className="w-1 flex-1">
    <div className="flex gap-2 pb-4">{/* Array of elements or overflowing content */}</div>
    <ScrollBar orientation="horizontal" className="w-full" />
  </ScrollArea>
</div>

3. Ensure Proper Parent and Child Widths

The parent container should have a fixed or responsive width (max-w-* classes in Tailwind CSS), and the child elements inside ScrollArea should maintain consistent dimensions. For example:

<div className="mx-auto max-w-6xl">
  <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-10">
    <h1 className="text-2xl font-semibold">Tasks</h1>
    <AddTaskButton id={params.id} />
  </div>
  <ScrollArea className="w-full overflow-x-auto">
    <TasksTable data={transformedData!} columns={columns} />
    <ScrollBar orientation="horizontal" />
  </ScrollArea>
</div>

4. Debugging Tips

  • Inspect Container and Child Widths: Ensure the ScrollArea and its children (Table) have appropriate widths (w-full, min-w-full, etc.).
  • Tailwind Config: If custom widths or spacing are used, ensure they are defined correctly in your Tailwind CSS configuration.
  • Browser Tools: Use developer tools to debug overflow and width styles.

FAQs

Why is my ScrollArea not scrolling horizontally?

Ensure that:

  • The ScrollArea has overflow-x-auto.
  • The Table or child content has a width greater than the ScrollArea.
  • A ScrollBar component is added for horizontal scrolling.

How can I dynamically resize the ScrollArea?

Wrap the ScrollArea in a flex container with flex-1 to ensure it resizes based on its parent.

Can I customize the scrollbar styles?

Yes, Shadcn/UI allows you to style the ScrollBar using Tailwind CSS or custom CSS.

<ScrollBar orientation="horizontal" className="h-2 rounded bg-gray-200 hover:bg-gray-400" />

Conclusion

By following the steps above, you can ensure that the ScrollArea in Shadcn/UI takes the full width of its container and handles overflowing content with a smooth horizontal scroll. Proper use of Tailwind CSS utility classes and Shadcn/UI components will make your Next.js project more robust and user-friendly.