Skip to main content

Stretched link

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

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. Please note given how CSS position works, .stretched-link cannot be mixed with most table elements.

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.

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;">
  <img src="..." class="card-img-top" alt="...">
  <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>

Media objects do not have position: relative by default, so we need to add the .position-relative here to prevent the link from stretching outside the media object.

Generic placeholder image
Media with stretched link

This is some placeholder content for the media object. It is intended to mimic what some real-world content would look like, and we're using it here to give the component a bit of body and size.

Go somewhere
<div class="media position-relative">
  <img src="..." class="mr-3" alt="...">
  <div class="media-body">
    <h5 class="mt-0">Media with stretched link</h5>
    <p>This is some placeholder content for the media object. It is intended to mimic what some real-world content would look like, and we're using it here to give the component a bit of body and size.</p>
    <a href="#" class="stretched-link">Go somewhere</a>
  </div>
</div>

Columns are position: relative by default, so clickable columns only require the .stretched-link 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

Another instance of placeholder content for this other custom component. It is intended to mimic what some real-world content would look like, and we're using it here to give the component a bit of body and size.

Go somewhere
<div class="row no-gutters bg-light position-relative">
  <div class="col-md-6 mb-md-0 p-md-4">
    <img src="..." class="w-100" alt="...">
  </div>
  <div class="col-md-6 position-static p-4 pl-md-0">
    <h5 class="mt-0">Columns with stretched link</h5>
    <p>Another instance of placeholder content for this other custom component. It is intended to mimic what some real-world content would look like, and we're using it here to give the component a bit of body and size.</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)
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;">
  <img src="..." class="card-img-top" alt="...">
  <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 <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 stretched-link">stretched link</a> will only be spread over the <code>p</code>-tag, because a transform is applied to it.
    </p>
  </div>
</div>