CSS Layout - The position Property

The position property specifies the type of positioning method used for an element (static, relative, fixed or absolute).

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The position Property

The position property specifies the type of positioning method used for an element.

There are four different position values:

• static
• relative
• fixed
• absolute

Elements are then positioned using the top, bottom, left, and right properties. However, these properties will not work unless the position property is set first. They also work differently depending on the position value.

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position: static;

HTML elements are positioned static by default.

Static positioned elements are not affected by the top, bottom, left, and right properties.

An element with position: static; is not positioned in any special way; it is always positioned according to the normal flow of the page:

This <div> element has position: static;

Here is the CSS that is used:

Example

div.static {
    position: static;
    border: 3px solid #8AC007;
}

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position: relative;

An element with position: relative; is positioned relative to its normal position.

Setting the top, right, bottom, and left properties of a relatively-positioned element will cause it to be adjusted away from its normal position. Other content will not be adjusted to fit into any gap left by the element.

This <div> element has position: relative;

Here is the CSS that is used:

Example

div.relative {
    position: relative;
    left: 30px;
    border: 3px solid #8AC007;
}

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position: fixed;

An element with position: fixed; is positioned relative to the viewport, which means it always stays in the same place even if the page is scrolled. The top, right, bottom, and left properties are used to position the element.

A fixed element does not leave a gap in the page where it would normally have been located.

Notice the fixed element in the lower-right corner of the page. Here is the CSS that is used:

Example

div.fixed {
    position: fixed;
    bottom: 0;
    right: 0;
    width: 300px;
    border: 3px solid #8AC007;
}

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position: absolute;

An element with position: absolute; is positioned relative to the nearest positioned ancestor (instead of positioned relative to the viewport, like fixed).

However; if an absolute positioned element has no positioned ancestors, it uses the document body, and moves along with page scrolling.

Note: A "positioned" element is one whose position is anything except static.

Here is a simple example:

This <div> element has position: relative;

This <div> element has position: absolute;

Here is the CSS that is used:

Example

div.relative {
    position: relative;
    width: 400px;
    height: 200px;
    border: 3px solid #8AC007;
}
div.absolute {
    position: absolute;
    top: 80px;
    right: 0;
    width: 200px;
    height: 100px;
    border: 3px solid #8AC007;
}

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Overlapping Elements

When elements are positioned, they can overlap other elements.

The z-index property specifies the stack order of an element (which element should be placed in front of, or behind, the others).

An element can have a positive or negative stack order:

Example

img {
    position: absolute;
    left: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    z-index: -1;
}

An element with greater stack order is always in front of an element with a lower stack order.

	Note: If two positioned elements overlap without a z-index specified, the element positioned last in the HTML code will be shown on top.

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All CSS Positioning Properties

Property	Description	Values
bottom	Sets the bottom margin edge for a positioned box	auto length % inherit
clip	Clips an absolutely positioned element	shape auto inherit
cursor	Specifies the type of cursor to be displayed	url auto crosshair default pointer move e-resize ne-resize nw-resize n-resize se-resize sw-resize s-resize w-resize text wait help
left	Sets the left margin edge for a positioned box	auto length % inherit
overflow	Specifies what happens if content overflows an element's box	auto hidden scroll visible inherit
position	Specifies the type of positioning for an element	absolute fixed relative static inherit
right	Sets the right margin edge for a positioned box	auto length % inherit
top	Sets the top margin edge for a positioned box	auto length % inherit
z-index	Sets the stack order of an element	number auto inherit