Laravel pagination on each side not working properly
Stefan Bogdanescu
Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29
# Mastering Laravel Pagination: Why `onEachSide` Isn't Working as Expected
As a senior developer working with the Laravel ecosystem, we frequently encounter subtle issues where seemingly correct Eloquent and Blade implementations fail to produce the desired responsive layout. One common point of confusion is mastering pagination settings, particularly when dealing with features like `onEachSide`, which dictate how navigation links are displayed.
This post dives deep into the issue you are facing—where setting `onEachSide(2)` doesn't seem to adjust the display correctly on mobile devices, causing layout breakage. We will diagnose the root cause and provide a robust solution that focuses on proper structural implementation rather than just applying CSS band-aids.
## Understanding the Problem: Data vs. Presentation
The core of this issue lies in the distinction between the data returned by Eloquent pagination and how the generated HTML links are rendered within your view structure.
When you use methods like `paginate(10)`, Laravel fetches a specific subset of records (e.g., 10 items per page). The `onEachSide(2)` method instructs the pagination view generator to include two links on either side of the current page number. While this correctly modifies the *number* of links generated, it doesn't automatically resolve conflicts with existing CSS grid or flex layouts designed for mobile responsiveness.
The problem usually isn't that you are getting too many items in terms of data, but rather that the **container** holding those pagination links is not gracefully adapting to the increased width demanded by the navigation structure on small screens. The layout breaks because the visual space required by the expanded links overflows the intended container boundaries.
## Analyzing Your Implementation
Let's look at the code snippets you provided:
### Controller Logic Review
Your controller logic for handling pagination using `onEachSide` is syntactically correct:
```php
$materials = Material::where('type', $type)->paginate(10)->onEachSide(2);
```
This setup correctly fetches and structures the paginated results. The issue, therefore, shifts from the data fetching layer to the presentation layer (the view).
### View Structure Review
Your view structure uses standard Bootstrap classes:
```html
```
This structure is generally sound for basic pagination. The use of `
{{ $materials->links() }}
` and `
` is standard practice for responsive design. If the issue persists, it suggests that while the container uses Bootstrap utilities, the specific rendering of the `links()` function might be causing overflow when combined with the surrounding elements or custom CSS expectations on mobile devices.
## The Solution: Ensuring Responsive Pagination Flow
The proper fix involves ensuring that the pagination component is treated as a cohesive block and allows for natural flow within the responsive grid. Since you are already using Bootstrap, we need to enforce better spacing and containment around the links.
Instead of relying solely on the default output of `$materials->links()`, we should ensure the entire pagination block respects the container width properly. A key best practice in Laravel development is ensuring that components like pagination are wrapped appropriately so they integrate smoothly into any responsive framework you choose, aligning with principles taught by the Laravel community regarding clean component design.
### Recommended Refinement
Ensure your CSS handles the spacing correctly. If the issue is overflow, it's usually because the links themselves are too wide or there is insufficient margin/padding applied to the container holding them.
**Actionable Step:** Inspect the generated HTML for `$materials->links()` on a mobile device. If you see horizontal scrolling or elements breaking out of their column boundaries, apply specific responsive styling directly to the pagination wrapper.
For example, if you are using Bootstrap 4/5, ensure your CSS applies appropriate padding and margins:
```css
/* In your custom CSS file */
.pagination .container {
padding-left: 15px; /* Add some internal padding */
padding-right: 15px;
}
.pagination .row > div {
/* Ensure the link column respects boundaries strictly */
width: 100%;
}
```
By explicitly controlling the padding and ensuring that the `links()` output is constrained within the defined Bootstrap grid system, you force the pagination to adapt responsively rather than fighting against the layout. This ensures that even with expanded side navigation, the user experience remains clean across all devices.
## Conclusion
Pagination in Laravel is a powerful feature, and understanding how it interacts with front-end design principles like responsiveness is crucial for building professional applications. The issue you faced was likely an interaction between the data structure output by Eloquent's pagination methods (`onEachSide`) and the inherent constraints of responsive CSS frameworks when rendering navigation links on small screens.
By focusing on robust container styling and ensuring semantic HTML flow, you can resolve these layout conflicts elegantly. Remember to always check how your components interact with responsive classes; this attention to detail is what separates functional code from truly excellent, user-friendly applications, much like the principles behind building scalable solutions in Laravel.