React Modern Calendar Datepicker: How to Fix Overlap with Elements Below

In modern web applications, interacting with dates is often implemented through datepicker components. However, despite their ease of use, you can encounter issues related to how these components are displayed. In this article, we will discuss a common problem that arises when using the react-modern-calendar-datepicker library in a table – the calendar popup overlapping elements below.

Overlap Issue When Opening the Calendar

In a situation where your application has multiple rows with datepicker components, you may find that the opening calendar of one component overlaps the values of other datepickers below. This is a problem, especially when using an approach where the calendar opens from the bottom. This approach can cause frustration for users as they may not be able to see or select the necessary dates.

To better understand this problem, let's look at an example code snippet.

Example Code

import { Calendar, Day } from 'react-modern-calendar-datepicker';
import React, { useState } from 'react';

const DatePickerRow = () => {
  const [selectedDate, setSelectedDate] = useState({
    year: null,
    month: null,
    day: null,
  });

  return (
    
      
    
  );
};

const DatePickerTable = () => {
  return (
    
      {Array.from({ length: 10 }).map((_, index) => (
        
      ))}
    
  );
};

export default DatePickerTable;

In this example, we create a component that displays multiple rows with dates. When each calendar is opened from the bottom, we encounter the issue of overlapping elements below it.

Causes of the Problem

This problem most often arises due to improperly configured CSS responsible for positioning elements on the page. The datepicker component, by default, may not have the necessary z-index to ensure it stays in the foreground.

Here are a few reasons why this happens:

1. Incorrect Positioning: The default styles may not account for the presence of other elements on the page.
2. Insufficient z-index: Even if you change the z-index, it may not always solve the problem if there are other styles interfering with it.
3. Modals and Contexts: If your datepicker is embedded in a powerful component or library that manages contexts, this can affect its rendering.

Solutions to the Problem

Let's try to solve the overlap problem using several approaches:

1. Adjusting z-index

If you are confident that changing the z-index is necessary, try the following:

.react-datepicker {
  z-index: 1000; /* Ensure this z-index is higher than all other elements */
}

However, if this doesn’t help, it’s recommended to try the following.

2. Opening the Calendar Upwards

If you have the option of opening the calendar upwards, this can be a temporary solution. For example, modify the datepicker component to open upwards when it’s near the bottom edge of the visible area.

3. Using a Modal Window

Another option is to use modal windows instead of the standard dropdown calendar. This will guarantee that the content is displayed above other components. This can be implemented using libraries such as React Modal.

import Modal from 'react-modal';

const DatePickerWithModal = () => {
  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);

  const openModal = () => setIsOpen(true);
  const closeModal = () => setIsOpen(false);

  return (
    
      Select Date
      
        
        Close
      
    
  );
};

4. Styling for Density

Another approach may be to modify the component's styles to correctly adapt to dense user interfaces. For example, you can reduce the size of the calendar or increase the spacing between rows and columns to avoid overlap.

.datepicker-row {
  margin-bottom: 40px; /* Change the margin between components */
}

Conclusion

The problem of the calendar overlapping other input elements can cause significant inconvenience for users of your web application. Applying the methods outlined above allows you to solve this issue and improve the user experience.

And remember, it is always important to test your interface on different resolutions to ensure its functionality.