Text truncation and overflow

Text rarely fits neatly into the boxes we design. User-generated content, dynamic data, or translated text can easily exceed the expected space. Without a clear strategy, this leads to broken layouts, cut-off information, or unreadable UI.

How we handle text overflow directly affects comprehension and usability:

• Truncation preserves layout but risks hiding meaning.
• Wrapping shows the full content but can increase cognitive load if space is limited.
• Scrolling allows full visibility but disrupts flow.

The key is context. Labels, tables, cards, and forms all require different approaches.

Principles for handling overflowing text without harming usability.

Prefer wrapping for body content

In paragraphs and longer text blocks, always allow wrapping. Truncation harms readability and accessibility.

References:

• WCAG 1.4.10: Reflow

Use truncation only when space is limited

Truncation should be a last resort when the UI cannot display the full text due to space constraints (for example: table cells, chat message previews, notification lists). Always indicate truncation with an ellipsis (…) rather than cutting text mid-word. If the full text matters, provide a clear way to access it (tooltip, “View more,” expand/collapse, or a detail view). Also front-load key words so truncated snippets still make sense.

References:

• The importance of tooltips in web accessibility - a11y
• 6 guidelines for truncation design – Baymard Institute

Use truncation with ellipsis for short labels

For UI elements like navigation items, tables, or chips, truncation with an ellipsis (…) maintains layout integrity. Always provide a tooltip, expand option, or accessible label to reveal full content.

References:

• Overflow content – IBM Carbond Design System
• Text truncation – Google Material Design

Consider scrolling only in special contexts

Scrolling text areas (for example: code snippets or logs) are valid for specialized content but reduce discoverability. Use sparingly and always indicate scroll affordance.

References:

• Scrolling and attention – Nielsen Norman Group

Test with real content and translations

Always test with edge cases: long names, dynamic data, or translated strings. German, Finnish, or Arabic often expand text lengths by 30–50 percent.

References:

• Text size in translation – W3C

Frequent pitfalls when handling text overflow in interfaces.

Truncating critical content without recovery

Cutting off text (for example: addresses or product names) without a way to see the rest frustrates users.

Wrapping in dense UI elements

Allowing wrapping in navigation menus or table headers clutters layout and harms scanability.

Overusing scrolling areas

Users often miss hidden content in scroll containers unless affordances are obvious.

Ignoring localization

Designing only with English text results in broken layouts once strings expand in other languages.

Using CSS tricks that hide content from screen readers

Some visual truncation methods cut content from the accessibility tree, violating WCAG.

Text overflow is inevitable. It can be managed with intention.

• Use wrapping for paragraphs and body text.
• Truncate short UI labels, but always provide a way to reveal the full content.
• Apply scrolling only in special cases such as code or logs.

Always test with real-world data and localized strings. Accessibility and clarity must drive the choice, not just visual neatness.