Is Clearfix Obsolete: When is it Still the Best Choice for Float Clearing?

Dispelling the Deprecation of Clearfix: A Comparative Analysis

As you have observed, both the "clearfix" method and overflow: hidden can effectively resolve the issue of containers not expanding their height to accommodate their floated children. Given their similar browser compatibility, it is natural to wonder if "clearfix" is becoming obsolete.

The Case for Continuation

While overflow: hidden is a viable alternative in most scenarios, there are exceptions where "clearfix" remains advantageous. One example arises when you need to create a horizontally overflowing container without vertical overflow. With overflow: hidden, this proves problematic.

Consider the case of a container with fixed height and horizontally floated elements. Overflow: hidden will not automatically adjust the container's height to accommodate the floated content. In such instances, alternative float-clearing methods like clear: both or "clearfix" must be employed.

A Notable Example

A prominent example where overflow: hidden falls short is the website fordinteractive.com/misc/overflow/. This site demonstrates an overflow issue that overflow: hidden cannot address. However, both "clearfix" and display: inline-block effectively solve the problem.

Conclusion

In summary, while overflow: hidden is generally sufficient for clearing floats, "clearfix" remains a valuable solution for specific scenarios where horizontal overflow is desired without vertical overflow. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that "clearfix" is not deprecated and maintains its relevance as a reliable technique for handling float-related issues.

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