Links

Various design treatments for anchor elements.

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

Add .link-stretch 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 .link-stretch class is clickable.

Note: Regarding how CSS position works, .link-stretch cannot be mixed with most table elements.

The effect of position:relative on table-row-group, table-header-group, table-footer-group, table-row, table-column-group, table-column, table-cell, and table-caption elements is undefined.

Examples

Using with Cards

By default, cards have position: relative, so in this case you can safely add the .link-stretch class to a link in the card without any other HTML changes.

Card image cap
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" style="width: 18rem;">
<div class="card-img">
<img class="img-fluid card-img-top" src="..." alt="Card image cap">
</div>
<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 link-stretch">Go somewhere</a>
</div>
</div>

Using with Custom Components

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.

Generic placeholder image
Custom component with stretched link

Cras sit amet nibh libero, in gravida nulla. Nulla vel metus scelerisque ante sollicitudin commodo. Cras purus odio, vestibulum in vulputate at, tempus viverra turpis.

Go somewhere
<div class="media border position-relative">
<img class="me-1" src="..." alt="Generic placeholder image">
<div class="media-body">
<h5>Custom component with stretched link</h5>
<p>Cras sit amet nibh libero, in gravida nulla. Nulla vel metus scelerisque ante sollicitudin commodo. Cras purus odio, vestibulum in vulputate at, tempus viverra turpis.</p>
<a href="#" class="link-stretch">Go somewhere</a>
</div>
</div>

Using with Columns

Columns are also position: relative by default, so clickable columns only require the .link-stretch class on a link. However, stretching a link over an entire .row requires .position-static on the column and .position-relative on the row.

Generic placeholder image
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.

Go somewhere
<div class="row g-0 bg-light position-relative">
<div class="col-md-6 mb-md-0 p-md-1">
<img class="me-1" src="..." alt="Generic placeholder image">
</div>
<div class="col-md-6 position-static p-1 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.</p>
<a href="#" class="link-stretch">Go somewhere</a>
</div>
</div>

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

.has-link-stretch a:not(.link-stretch) {
position: relative;
z-index: 2;
}
<div class="card has-link-stretch" style="width: 18rem;">
<div class="card-img">
<img class="img-fluid card-img-top" src="..." alt="Card image cap">
</div>
<div class="card-body">
<h5 class="card-title">Card with stretched link</h5>
<p class="card-text">The 'Unstretched' link will also clickable, and will 'sit' above the stretched link due to its higher <code>z-index</code> value.</p>
<div class="d-flex flex-between">
<a href="#stretched" class="btn btn-primary link-stretch">Stretched</a>
<a href="#unstretched" class="btn">Unstretched</a>
</div>
</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)
Card image cap
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;">
<div class="card-img">
<img class="img-fluid card-img-top" src="..." alt="Card image cap">
</div>
<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="link-stretch text-danger" style="position: relative;">Stretched link will not work here, because <code>position: relative</code> is added to the link</a>
</p>
<p class="card-text bg-light" style="transform: rotate(0);">
This <a href="#" class="text-warning link-stretch">stretched link</a> will only be spread over the <code>p</code>-tag, because a transform is applied to it.
</p>
</div>
</div>

SASS Reference

Variables

The available Customization options, or Sass variables, that can be customized for this grouping of utility classes.

Name Type Default Description
$enable-utility-link-stretch boolean true Enable the generation of the stretchable link utility class.
$link-stretch-pseudo-element string after Pseudo element to use for stretched links.
$link-stretch-z-index integer 1 z-index value to use for stretched links.

Mixins

No mixins available.