Stretched link

Bootstrap 5 Stretched link

Make any HTML element or MDB component clickable by “stretching” a nested link via CSS.


Basic examples

Add .stretched-link to a link to make its containing block clickable via a ::after pseudo element. In most cases, this means that an element with position: relative; that contains a link with the .stretched-link class is clickable.

Cards have position: relative by default in Bootstrap, so in this case you can safely add the .stretched-link class to a link in the card without any other HTML changes.

Multiple links and tap targets are not recommended with stretched links. However, some position and z-index styles can help should this be required.

hollywood sign
Card with stretched link

Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.

Go somewhere
        
            
          <div class="card">
            <img
              src="https://mdbcdn.b-cdn.net/img/new/standard/city/041.webp"
              class="card-img-top"
              alt="hollywood sign"
            />
            <div class="card-body">
              <h5 class="card-title">Card with stretched link</h5>
              <p class="card-text">
                Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the
                card's content.
              </p>
              <a href="#!" class="btn btn-primary stretched-link">Go somewhere</a>
            </div>
          </div>
        
        
    

Most custom components do not have position: relative by default, so we need to add the .position-relative here to prevent the link from stretching outside the parent element.

hollywood sign
Custom component with stretched link

Cras sit amet nibh libero, in gravida nulla. Nulla vel metus scelerisque ante sollicitudin. Cras purus odio, vestibulum in vulputate at, tempus viverra turpis. Fusce condimentum nunc ac nisi vulputate fringilla. Donec lacinia congue felis in faucibus.

Go somewhere
        
            
          <div class="d-flex position-relative">
            <img
              src="https://mdbcdn.b-cdn.net/img/new/standard/city/041.webp"
              class="flex-shrink-0 me-3"
              style="max-width: 12rem"
              alt="hollywood sign"
            />
            <div>
              <h5 class="mt-0">Custom component with stretched link</h5>
              <p>
                Cras sit amet nibh libero, in gravida nulla. Nulla vel metus scelerisque ante
                sollicitudin. Cras purus odio, vestibulum in vulputate at, tempus viverra turpis.
                Fusce condimentum nunc ac nisi vulputate fringilla. Donec lacinia congue felis in
                faucibus.
              </p>
              <a href="#" class="stretched-link">Go somewhere</a>
            </div>
          </div>
        
        
    
hollywood sign
Columns with stretched link

Cras sit amet nibh libero, in gravida nulla. Nulla vel metus scelerisque ante sollicitudin. Cras purus odio, vestibulum in vulputate at, tempus viverra turpis. Fusce condimentum nunc ac nisi vulputate fringilla. Donec lacinia congue felis in faucibus.

Go somewhere
        
            
          <div class="row g-0 bg-light position-relative">
            <div class="col-md-6 mb-md-0 p-md-4">
              <img
                src="https://mdbcdn.b-cdn.net/img/new/standard/city/041.webp"
                class="w-100"
                alt="hollywood sign"
              />
            </div>
            <div class="col-md-6 p-4 ps-md-0">
              <h5 class="mt-0">Columns with stretched link</h5>
              <p>
                Cras sit amet nibh libero, in gravida nulla. Nulla vel metus scelerisque ante
                sollicitudin. Cras purus odio, vestibulum in vulputate at, tempus viverra turpis.
                Fusce condimentum nunc ac nisi vulputate fringilla. Donec lacinia congue felis in
                faucibus.
              </p>
              <a href="#" class="stretched-link">Go somewhere</a>
            </div>
          </div>
        
        
    

Identifying the containing block

If the stretched link doesn’t seem to work, the containing block will probably be the cause. The following CSS properties will make an element the containing block:

  • A position value other than static
  • A transform or perspective value other than none
  • A will-change value of transform or perspective
  • A filter value other than none or a will-change value of filter (only works on Firefox)
hollywood sign
Card with stretched links

Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.

Stretched link will not work here, because position: relative is added to the link

This stretched link will only be spread over the p-tag, because a transform is applied to it.

        
            
          <div class="card" style="width: 18rem">
            <img
              src="https://mdbcdn.b-cdn.net/img/new/standard/city/041.webp"
              class="card-img-top"
              alt="hollywood sign"
            />
            <div class="card-body">
              <h5 class="card-title">Card with stretched links</h5>
              <p class="card-text">
                Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the
                card's content.
              </p>
              <p class="card-text">
                <a href="#" class="stretched-link text-danger" style="position: relative">
                  Stretched link will not work here, because position: relative is
                  added to the link
                </a>
              </p>
              <p class="card-text bg-light" style="transform: rotate(0)">
                This <a href="#" class="text-warning stretched-link">stretched link</a> will only be
                spread over the p-tag, because a transform is applied to it.
              </p>
            </div>
          </div>