CSS text-overflow: ellipsis; not working?

Cover Image for CSS text-overflow: ellipsis; not working?
Matheus Mello
Matheus Mello
published a few days ago. updated a few hours ago

📝 Why CSS text-overflow: ellipsis; is not working?

So, you're scratching your head and wondering why CSS text-overflow: ellipsis; isn't working for you. Fear not, my fellow coder! I'm here to shed some light on this common issue and provide you with simple solutions to get that ellipsis working like a charm. Let's dive in! 💪🕵️‍♀️

Understanding the Problem 👓

From the code snippet you shared, it seems you're aiming to truncate the text within an anchor <a> element using the text-overflow: ellipsis; property. But alas! The desired effect isn't happening. Let's troubleshoot and see why.

Possible Causes 🤔

  1. Width Constraint: If the parent element (in your case, the <div class="app">) doesn't have a specified width, the text-overflow: ellipsis; won't work. Make sure to set a width explicitly.

  2. Sibling Elements: If there are other sibling elements next to the anchor <a> element, it may affect the available space for the text. Ensure that there is enough room for the ellipsis to appear.

Easy Solutions ✅

Here are a couple of straightforward solutions to fix the issue:

1. Set a Width for the Parent Element

.app {
  width: 200px; /* Adjust as needed */
}

Make sure to adjust the width according to your layout requirements.

2. Add CSS Flexbox Magic

Using CSS Flexbox, you can distribute the available space evenly and have the text automatically truncate with ellipsis. Here's how:

.app {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center; /* Optional - for vertical centering */
}

.app a {
  flex: 1;
  overflow: hidden;
  text-overflow: ellipsis;
  white-space: nowrap;
}

By setting display: flex; on the parent element, the anchor <a> element will automatically expand to fill the available space, and the text will truncate with ellipsis when necessary.

Call to Action 💬

I hope this guide has helped you understand why text-overflow: ellipsis; might not be working as expected and provided you with simple solutions to fix it. Give it a try and let me know if it worked for you!

Have you encountered any CSS problems lately that are driving you bonkers? Share your frustrations or questions in the comments below, and I'll be glad to help! 🙌🎉


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