How can I combine flexbox and vertical scroll in a full-height app?

Question

I want to use a full-height app using flexbox. I found what I want using old flexbox layout module (display: box; and other things) in this link: CSS3 Flexbox full-height app and overflow

This is a correct solution for browsers that only support the old version of the flexbox CSS properties.

If I want to try using the newer flexbox properties, I'll try to use the second solution in the same link listed as a hack: using a container with height: 0px;. It makes to show a vertical scroll.

I don't like it a lot because it introduces other problems and it is more a workaround than a solution.

I have prepared a JSFiddle as well with a base example: http://jsfiddle.net/ch7n6/

It is a full-height HTML website and the footer is at the bottom because of the flexbox properties of the content element. I suggest you move the bar between CSS code and result to simulate different height.

Answer 1

Thanks to https://stackoverflow.com/users/1652962/cimmanon that gave me the answer.

The solution is setting a height to the vertical scrollable element. For example:

#container article {
    flex: 1 1 auto;
    overflow-y: auto;
    height: 0px;
}

The element will have height because flexbox recalculates it unless you want a min-height so you can use height: 100px; that it is exactly the same as: min-height: 100px;

#container article {
    flex: 1 1 auto;
    overflow-y: auto;
    height: 100px; /* == min-height: 100px*/
}

So the best solution if you want a min-height in the vertical scroll:

#container article {
    flex: 1 1 auto;
    overflow-y: auto;
    min-height: 100px;
}

If you just want full vertical scroll in case there is no enough space to see the article:

#container article {
    flex: 1 1 auto;
    overflow-y: auto;
    min-height: 0px;
}

The final code: http://jsfiddle.net/ch7n6/867/