Why Does My Sticky Element Stop Sticking Inside a Flexbox Container?

Sticky Elements and Flexbox: A Gotcha

Certain CSS configurations can lead to unexpected behavior. One such scenario occurs when combining position: sticky with flexbox. Initially, the sticky element remains stagnant until reaching a specified scroll position, yet this behavior ceases when placed within a flexbox container.

The Issue

The problem stems from the default flexbox behavior. By default, all elements within a flexbox container stretch to fit the available space. Consequently, any sticky element loses its intended functionality because the flexbox container prevents scrolling.

The Solution

To resolve this issue, add the align-self: flex-start property to the sticky element. This sets the height of the sticky element to auto, allowing the content to flow naturally and enabling scrolling.

Browser Compatibility

Most major browsers support this solution, although Safari requires the use of the -webkit- prefix:

.flexbox-wrapper {
  display: flex;
}
.sticky {
  position: -webkit-sticky; /* for Safari */
  position: sticky;
  top: 0;
  align-self: flex-start; /* fix */
}

While Firefox does not support the align-self: flex-start property, it doesn't suffer from the same scrolling issue with position: sticky. In addition, position: sticky is not yet fully supported for tables in all browsers. It is advisable to use caution, especially when catering to specific browser requirements.

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