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.

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 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.

Media 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="media position-relative">
  <img src="..." class="mr-3" alt="...">
  <div class="media-body">
    <h5 class="mt-0">Media 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>

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.

Columns with stretched link

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>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)

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>