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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
<html lang=en>
<head profile="http://www.w3.org/2006/03/hcard"><meta
content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<title>CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3</title>
<link href=default.css rel=stylesheet type="text/css">
<link href="http://www.w3.org/StyleSheets/TR/W3C-ED.css" rel=stylesheet
type="text/css">
<style type="text/css">
.cb-example-table
{
border: 1px solid;
border-collapse: collapse;
font-size: smaller;
text-align: center;
margin: 0 2em;
}
.cb-example-table td, .cb-example-table th
{
border: 1px solid;
padding: 0 3px;
}
code span, td span
{
white-space: nowrap;
}
.relationship-table
{
border: 1px solid;
border-collapse: collapse;
font-size: smaller;
margin: 0 6em;
}
.relationship-table th
{
text-align: center;
white-space:nowrap;
}
.relationship-table td, .relationship-table th
{
border: 1px solid;
padding: 0 3px;
}
h2 dfn, h3 dfn
{
font: inherit;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class=head> <!--begin-logo-->
<p id=x><a href="http://www.w3.org/"><img alt=W3C height=48
src="http://www.w3.org/Icons/w3c_home" width=72></a> <!--end-logo-->
<h1>CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3</h1>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc" id=longstatus-date>Editor's Draft 28 October
2011</h2>
<dl>
<dt>This version:
<dd><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2011/ED-css3-positioning-20111028/">http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css3-positioning/</a></dd>
<!--<dt>Latest version:</dt>
<dd><a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-positioning/">http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-positioning/</a></dd>-->
<dt>Editor's draft:
<dd><a
href="http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css3-positioning/">http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css3-positioning/</a>
<dt>Previous version:
<dd>None
<dt>Editors:
<dd class=vcard><span class=fn>Arron Eicholz</span>, <span
class=org>Microsoft Corporation</span>
</dl>
<!--begin-copyright-->
<p class=copyright id=copyright-copy-year-2000-w3creg-mit-erci><a
href="http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#Copyright"
rel=license>Copyright</a> © 2011 <a
href="http://www.w3.org/"><acronym
title="World Wide Web Consortium">W3C</acronym></a><sup>®</sup> (<a
href="http://www.csail.mit.edu/"><acronym
title="Massachusetts Institute of Technology">MIT</acronym></a>, <a
href="http://www.ercim.eu/"><acronym
title="European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics">ERCIM</acronym></a>,
<a href="http://www.keio.ac.jp/">Keio</a>), All Rights Reserved. W3C <a
href="http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#Legal_Disclaimer">liability</a>,
<a
href="http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#W3C_Trademarks">trademark</a>
and <a
href="http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/copyright-documents">document
use</a> rules apply.</p>
<!--end-copyright-->
<hr title="Separator for header">
</div>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc" id=abstract>Abstract</h2>
<p id=css-is-a-language-for-describing-the-ren> CSS is a language for
describing the rendering of structured documents (such as HTML and XML) on
screen, on paper, in speech, etc. This module contains the features of CSS
level 3 relating to positioning and stacking of elements. It includes
and extends the functionality of CSS level 2 <a href="#CSS21"
rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>, which builds on CSS
level 1 <a href="#CSS1" rel=biblioentry>[CSS1]<!--{{CSS1}}--></a>.
The main extensions compared to level 2 are the ability to position
elements based on CSS Region boxes, and the ability to specify a different
containing blocks for elements.
<p id=other-kinds-of-layout-such-as-tables-flo> Other kinds of layout, such
as tables, "floating" boxes, ruby annotations, grid layouts, columns and
basic handling of normal "flow" content, are described in other modules.
Also, the layout of text inside each line is defined elsewhere.
<h2 class="no-num no-toc" id=status>Status of this document</h2>
<!--begin-status-->
<p id=this-is-a-public-copy-of-the-editors-dra>This is a public copy of the
editors' draft. It is provided for discussion only and may change at any
moment. Its publication here does not imply endorsement of its contents by
W3C. Don't cite this document other than as work in progress.
<p id=the-archived-public-mailing-list-www-sty>The (<a
href="http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-style/">archived</a>) public
mailing list <a
href="mailto:www-style@w3.org?Subject=%5Bcss3-positioning%5D%20PUT%20SUBJECT%20HERE">
www-style@w3.org</a> (see <a
href="http://www.w3.org/Mail/Request">instructions</a>) is preferred for
discussion of this specification. When sending e-mail, please put the text
“css3-positioning” in the subject, preferably like this:
“[<!---->css3-positioning<!---->] <em>…summary of
comment…</em>”
<p id=this-document-was-produced-by-the-css-wo>This document was produced
by the <a href="/Style/CSS/members">CSS Working Group</a> (part of the <a
href="/Style/">Style Activity</a>).
<p id=this-document-was-produced-by-a-group-op>This document was produced
by a group operating under the <a
href="/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20040205/">5 February 2004 W3C Patent
Policy</a>. W3C maintains a <a href="/2004/01/pp-impl/32061/status"
rel=disclosure>public list of any patent disclosures</a> made in
connection with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes
instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual
knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains <a
href="/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20040205/#def-essential">Essential
Claim(s)</a> must disclose the information in accordance with <a
href="/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20040205/#sec-Disclosure">section 6 of the
W3C Patent Policy</a>.</p>
<!--end-status-->
<!--<p>The following features are at risk:</p>-->
<h2 class="no-num no-toc" id=contents>Table of contents</h2>
<!--begin-toc-->
<ul class=toc>
<li id=introduction-1.1.-module-interactions-1.><a href="#intro"><span
class=secno>1. </span>Introduction</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li id=module-interactions-><a href="#placement"><span class=secno>1.1.
</span>Module Interactions</a>
<li id=values-><a href="#values"><span class=secno>1.2.
</span>Values</a>
</ul>
<li id=the-viewport-><a href="#viewport"><span class=secno>2. </span>The
Viewport</a>
<li id=containing-blocks-3.1.-definition-of-con><a
href="#containing-block"><span class=secno>3. </span>Containing
Blocks</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li id=definition-of-containing-block-><a
href="#def-containing-blocks"><span class=secno>3.1. </span>Definition
of containing block</a>
</ul>
<li id=normal-flow-><a href="#normal-flow"><span class=secno>4.
</span>Normal Flow</a>
<li id=floats-><a href="#floats"><span class=secno>5. </span>Floats</a>
<li id=positioning-schemes-6.1.-relative-positi><a
href="#positioning-schemes"><span class=secno>6. </span>Positioning
schemes</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li id=relative-positioning-><a href="#relative-positioning"><span
class=secno>6.1. </span>Relative Positioning</a>
<li id=absolute-positioning-><a href="#absolute-positioning"><span
class=secno>6.2. </span><span class=index-def id=absolute-positioning1
title="absolute positioning|absolute position|absolutely positioned">Absolute
positioning</span></a>
<li id=page-positioning-><a href="#page-positioning"><span
class=secno>6.3. </span><span class=index-def id=page-positioning0
title="page positioning|page position|page positioned">Page
positioning</span></a>
<li id=fixed-positioning-><a href="#fixed-positioning"><span
class=secno>6.4. </span><span class=index-def id=fixed-positioning0
title="fixed positioning|fixed position|fixed positioned">Fixed
positioning</span></a>
<li id=choosing-a-positioning-scheme-position-p><a
href="#position-property"><span class=secno>6.5. </span>Choosing a
positioning scheme: ‘<code class=property>position</code>’
property</a>
<li id=box-offsets-top-right-bottom-left-><a
href="#box-offsets-trbl"><span class=secno>6.6. </span>Box offsets:
‘<code class=property>top</code>’, ‘<code
class=property>right</code>’, ‘<code
class=property>bottom</code>’, ‘<code
class=property>left</code>’</a>
</ul>
<li id=sizing-and-positioning-details-7.1.-the-><a
href="#size-and-position-details"><span class=secno>7. </span>Sizing and
positioning details</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li id=the-width-of-absolute-page-or-fixed-posi><a
href="#width-of-absolute-non-replaced-elements"><span class=secno>7.1.
</span>The width of absolute, page or fixed positioned, non-replaced
element</a>
<li id=the-width-of-a-center-positioned-non-rep><a
href="#width-of-center-positioned-non-replaced-elements"><span
class=secno>7.2. </span>The width of a center positioned, non-replaced
element</a>
<li id=the-width-of-absolute-page-or-fixed-posi0><a
href="#width-of-absolute-replaced-elements"><span class=secno>7.3.
</span>The width of absolute, page or fixed positioned, replaced
element</a>
<li id=the-width-of-a-center-positioned-replace><a
href="#width-of-center-replaced-elements"><span class=secno>7.4.
</span>The width of a center positioned, replaced element</a>
<li id=the-height-of-absolute-page-or-fixed-pos><a
href="#height-of-absolute-non-replaced-elements"><span class=secno>7.5.
</span>The height of absolute, page or fixed positioned, non-replaced
element</a>
<li id=the-height-of-a-center-positioned-non-re><a
href="#height-of-center-non-replaced-elements"><span class=secno>7.6.
</span>The height of a center positioned, non-replaced element</a>
<li id=the-height-of-absolute-page-or-fixed-pos0><a
href="#height-of-absolute-replaced-elements"><span class=secno>7.7.
</span>The height of absolute, page or fixed positioned, replaced
element</a>
<li id=the-height-of-a-center-positioned-replac><a
href="#height-of-center-replaced-elements"><span class=secno>7.8.
</span>The height of a center positioned, replaced element</a>
<li id=auto-heights-for-block-formatting-contex><a
href="#auto-height-for-block-formatting-context-roots"><span
class=secno>7.9. </span>‘<code class=property>Auto</code>’
heights for block formatting context roots</a>
</ul>
<li id=relationships-between-display-position-a><a
href="#relationship-between-display-position-float"><span class=secno>8.
</span>Relationships between ‘<code
class=property>display</code>’, ‘<code
class=property>position</code>’, and ‘<code
class=property>float</code>’</a>
<li id=comparison-of-normal-flow-floats-and-abs><a
href="#comparison-of-flow-floats-absolute-positioning"><span
class=secno>9. </span>Comparison of normal flow, floats, and absolute
positioning</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li id=normal-flow-0><a href="#normal-flow-example"><span
class=secno>9.1. </span>Normal flow</a>
<li id=relative-positioning-0><a href="#rel-position"><span
class=secno>9.2. </span>Relative positioning</a>
<li id=floating-a-box-><a href="#floating-box"><span class=secno>9.3.
</span>Floating a box</a>
<li id=absolute-positioning-0><a href="#abs-positioning"><span
class=secno>9.4. </span>Absolute positioning</a>
<li id=page-positioning-0><a href="#page-pos"><span class=secno>9.5.
</span>Page positioning</a>
</ul>
<li id=clipping-the-clip-property-><a href="#clip-property"><span
class=secno>10. </span>Clipping: the ‘<code
class=property>clip</code>’ property</a>
<li id=layered-presentation-><a href="#layered-presentation"><span
class=secno>11. </span>Layered presentation</a>
<li id=detailed-stacking-context-12.1.-definiti><a
href="#det-stacking-context"><span class=secno>12. </span>Detailed
stacking context</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li id=definitions-><a href="#definitions-stack"><span class=secno>12.1.
</span>Definitions</a>
<li id=painting-order-><a href="#painting-order"><span class=secno>12.2.
</span>Painting order</a>
<li id=notes-><a href="#stacking-notes"><span class=secno>12.3.
</span>Notes</a>
</ul>
<li id=conformance-13.1.-document-conventions-1><a
href="#conformance"><span class=secno>13. </span>Conformance</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li id=document-conventions-><a href="#conventions"><span
class=secno>13.1. </span>Document Conventions</a>
<li id=conformance-classes-><a href="#conformance-classes"><span
class=secno>13.2. </span>Conformance Classes</a>
<li id=partial-implementations-><a href="#partial"><span
class=secno>13.3. </span>Partial Implementations</a>
<li id=experimental-implementations-><a href="#experimental"><span
class=secno>13.4. </span>Experimental Implementations</a>
<li id=non-experimental-implementations-><a href="#testing"><span
class=secno>13.5. </span>Non-Experimental Implementations</a>
<li id=cr-exit-criteria-><a href="#cr-exit-criteria"><span
class=secno>13.6. </span>CR Exit Criteria</a>
</ul>
<li class=no-num id=acknowledgments-><a
href="#acknowledgments">Acknowledgments</a>
<li class=no-num id=references-normative-references-other-re><a
href="#references">References</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li class=no-num id=normative-references-><a
href="#normative-references">Normative references</a>
<li class=no-num id=other-references-><a href="#other-references">Other
references</a>
</ul>
<li class=no-num id=index-><a href="#index">Index</a>
<li class=no-num id=property-index0><a href="#property-index">Property
index</a>
</ul>
<!--end-toc-->
<h2 id=intro><span class=secno>1. </span>Introduction</h2>
<p id=this-section-is-not-normative.><em>This section is not
normative.</em>
<p id=css-assumes-the-document-layout-is-model> CSS assumes the document
layout is modeled as a tree of elements. The unique element that has no
parent is called the root element. This module describes how any of the
elements from the tree of elements can be arranged independent of document
order (i.e. taken out of "flow"). With a positioned element the element
may be placed anywhere within the content not specifically respecting the
tree of elements order.
<p id=in-css21-the-visual-formatting-model-exp> In <a href="#CSS21"
rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>, the visual formatting model
explained how each element in the document tree generates zero or more
boxes according to the box model. This module further explains and extends
the positioning scheme. The layout of these boxes is governed by:
<ul>
<li id=box-dimensions-and-type.><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/box.html#box-dimensions">box
dimensions</a> and <a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#box-gen">type</a>.
<li id=positioning-scheme-normal-flow-float-and>positioning scheme (<a
href="#normal-flow0">normal flow</a>, float, and absolute positioning).
<li id=relationships-between-elements-in-the-do>relationships between
elements in the <a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/conform.html#doctree">document tree</a>.
<li id=external-information-e.g.-viewport-size->external information
(e.g., viewport size, intrinsic dimensions of images, etc.).
</ul>
<p id=the-properties-defined-in-this-module-ap>The properties defined in
this module apply to both continuous media and paged media.
<h3 id=placement><span class=secno>1.1. </span>Module Interactions</h3>
<p id=this-module-replaced-and-extends-the-pos>This module replaced and
extends the positioning scheme features defined in <a href="#CSS21"
rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a> sections:
<ul>
<li id=the-viewport><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#viewport">9.1.1 The
viewport</a>
<li id=containing-blocks><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#containing-block">9.1.2
Containing blocks</a>
<li id=positioning-schemes0><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#positioning-scheme">9.3
Positioning schemes</a>
<li id=relative-positioning0><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#relative-positioning">9.4.3
Relative positioning</a>
<li id=absolute-positioning0><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#absolute-positioning">9.6
Absolute positioning</a>
<li id=relationships-between-display-position-a0><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#dis-pos-flo">9.7
Relationships between ‘<code class=property>display</code>’,
‘<code class=property>position</code>’, and ‘<code
class=property>float</code>’</a>
<li id=comparison-of-normal-flow-floats-and-abs0><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#comparison">9.8 Comparison
of normal flow, floats, and absolute positioning</a>
<li id=layered-presentation0><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#layers">9.9 Layered
presentation</a>
<li id=definition-of-containing-block><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#containing-block-details">10.1
Definition of "containing block"</a>
<li id=absolutely-positioned-non-replaced-eleme><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#abs-non-replaced-width">10.3.7
Absolutely positioned, non-replaced elements</a>
<li id=absolutely-positioned-replaced-elements><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#abs-replaced-width">10.3.8
Absolutely positioned, replaced elements</a>
<li id=absolutely-positioned-non-replaced-eleme0><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#abs-non-replaced-height">10.6.4
Absolutely positioned, non-replaced elements</a>
<li id=absolutely-positioned-replaced-elements0><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#abs-replaced-height">10.6.5
Absolutely positioned replaced elements</a>
<li id=auto-heights-for-block-formatting-contex0><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#root-height">10.6.7
‘<code class=css>Auto</code>’ heights for block formatting
context roots</a>
<li id=clipping-the-clip-property><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visufx.html#clipping">11.1.2 Clipping:
the ‘<code class=property>clip</code>’ property</a>
<li id=appendix-e.-elaborate-description-of-sta><a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/zindex.html">Appendix E. Elaborate
description of Stacking Contexts</a>
</ul>
<!-- End section" Module Interactions -->
<h3 id=values><span class=secno>1.2. </span>Values</h3>
<p id=this-specification-follows-the-css-prope>This specification follows
the CSS property definition conventions from <a href="#CSS21"
rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>.
<p id=value-types-not-defined-in-this-specific> Value types not defined in
this specification are defined in CSS Level 2 Revision 1 <a href="#CSS21"
rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>. Other CSS modules may expand
the definitions of these value types: for example <a href="#CSS3VAL"
rel=biblioentry>[CSS3VAL]<!--{{CSS3VAL}}--></a>, when combined with this
module, expands the definition of the <length> value type as used in
this specification.
<p id=in-addition-to-the-property-specific-val> In addition to the
property-specific values listed in their definitions, all properties
defined in this specification also accept the <a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/cascade.html#value-def-inherit">inherit</a>
keyword as their property value. For readability it has not been repeated
explicitly.</p>
<!-- End section: Values -->
<!-- End section Introduction -->
<h2 id=viewport><span class=secno>2. </span>The <dfn id=viewport0
title=viewport>Viewport</dfn></h2>
<p id=user-agents-for-continuous-media-general> User agents for <a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/media.html#continuous-media-group">continuous
media</a> generally offer users a viewport (a window or other viewing area
on the screen) through which users consult a document. User agents may
change the document's layout when the viewport is resized (see the
<span>initial containing block</span>).
<p id=when-the-viewport-is-smaller-than-the-ar> When the viewport is
smaller than the area of the canvas on which the document is rendered, the
user agent may offer a scrolling mechanism. There is at most one viewport
per <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/intro.html#canvas">canvas</a>, but
user agents may render to more than one canvas (i.e., provide different
views of the same document).</p>
<!-- End section: The Viewport -->
<h2 id=containing-block><span class=secno>3. </span>Containing Blocks</h2>
<p id=in-css-many-box-positions-and-sizes-are-> In CSS, many box positions
and sizes are calculated with respect to the edges of a rectangular box
called a containing block. In general, generated boxes act as containing
blocks for descendant boxes; we say that a box "establishes" the
containing block for its descendants. The phrase "a box's containing
block" means "the containing block in which the box lives," not the one it
generates.
<p id=each-box-is-given-a-position-with-respec> Each box is given a
position with respect to its containing block, but it is not confined by
this containing block; it may <a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visufx.html#overflow">overflow</a>.
<h3 id=def-containing-blocks><span class=secno>3.1. </span>Definition of
<dfn id=containing-block0>containing block</dfn></h3>
<p id=the-position-and-size-of-an-element39s-b> The position and size of an
element's box(es) are sometimes computed relative to a certain
rectangle, called the containing block of the element. The containing
block of a ‘<code class=css>static</code>’ or ‘<code
class=css>relative</code>’ element is defined in the Box Model <a
href="#CSS3BOX" rel=biblioentry>[CSS3BOX]<!--{{!CSS3BOX}}--></a>; for
‘<code class=css>fixed</code>’, ‘<code
class=css>absolute</code>’ and ‘<code
class=css>page</code>’, it is defined as follows:
<ol>
<li id=if-the-element-has-positioned-fixed-the-> If the element has <a
href="#fixed" title="'position'!!''fixed''">‘<code
class=css>positioned: fixed</code>’</a>, the containing block is
established by the <a href="#viewport0">viewport</a> in the case of
continuous media or the page area in the case of paged media.
<li id=if-the-element-has-position-page-the-con> If the element has <a
href="#page" title="'position'!!''page''">‘<code
class=css>position: page</code>’</a>, the containing block is the
<span>initial containing block</span>. Typically this is the <a
href="#viewport0">viewport</a> or the page area when in paged media. In
the case of CSS Regions <a href="#CSS3-REGIONS"
rel=biblioentry>[CSS3-REGIONS]<!--{{!CSS3-REGIONS}}--></a> this is the
individual region.
<li id=if-the-element-has-position-absolute-the> If the element has <a
href="#absolute" title="'position'!!''absolute''">‘<code
class=css>position: absolute</code>’</a>, the containing block is
established by the nearest ancestor with a ‘<a
href="#position"><code class=property>position</code></a>’ other
than <a href="#static" title="'position'!!''static''">‘<code
class=css>static</code>’</a>, in the following way:
<ol>
<li id=in-the-case-that-the-ancestor-is-block-l> In the case that the
ancestor is block-level, the containing block is formed by the padding
edge of the ancestor.
<li id=in-the-case-that-the-ancestor-is-inline-> In the case that the
ancestor is inline-level, the containing block depends on the
‘<code class=property>direction</code>’ property of the
ancestor:
<ol>
<li id=if-the-direction-is-ltr-the-top-and-left> If the ‘<code
class=property>direction</code>’ is ‘<code
class=css>ltr</code>’, the top and left of the containing block
are the top and left content edges of the first box generated by the
ancestor, and the bottom and right are the bottom and right content
edges of the last box of the ancestor.
<li id=if-the-direction-is-rtl-the-top-and-righ> If the ‘<code
class=property>direction</code>’ is ‘<code
class=css>rtl</code>’, the top and right are the top and right
edges of the first box generated by the ancestor, and the bottom and
left are the bottom and left content edges of the last box of the
ancestor.
<p class=note id=note-in-some-cases-when-a-line-wraps-it-> Note, in
some cases when a line wraps it may seem as if the left and right
positions are swapped.</p>
</ol>
</ol>
<li id=if-there-is-no-such-ancestor-the-contain>If there is no such
ancestor, the containing block is the <span>initial containing
block</span>.
</ol>
<p id=in-paged-media-an-absolutely-positioned-> In paged media, an
absolutely positioned element is positioned relative to its containing
block ignoring any page breaks (as if the document were continuous). The
element may subsequently be broken over several pages.
<p id=for-absolutely-positioned-content-that-r> For absolutely positioned
content that resolves to a position on a page other than the page being
laid out (the current page), or resolves to a position on the current page
which has already been rendered for printing, printers may place the
content:
<ul>
<li id=on-the-current-page>on the current page,
<li id=on-a-subsequent-page-or>on a subsequent page, or
<li id=may-omit-it-alltogether.>may omit it alltogether.
</ul>
<p class=note id=note-a-block-level-element-that-is-split> Note, a
block-level element that is split over several pages may have a different
width on each page and that there may be device-specific limits.
<div class=example>
<p id=with-no-positioning-the-containing-block>With no positioning, the
containing blocks (C.B.) in the following document:</p>
<pre><code class=html>
<!DOCTYPE html public "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN">
<html>
<head>
<title>Illustration of containing blocks</title>
</head>
<body id="body">
<div id="div1">
<p id="p1">This is text in the first paragraph...</p>
<p id="p2">This is text <em id="em1"> in the
<strong id="strong1">second</strong> paragraph.</em></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
</code></pre>
<p id=are-established-as-follows>are established as follows:</p>
<table class=cb-example-table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>For box generated by
<th>C.B. is established by
<tr>
<td>html
<td>initial C.B. (UA-dependent)
<tr>
<td>body
<td>html
<tr>
<td>div1
<td>body
<tr>
<td>p1
<td>div1
<tr>
<td>p2
<td>div1
<tr>
<td>em1
<td>p2
<tr>
<td>strong1
<td>p2
</table>
<p id=if-we-position-div1>If we position "div1":</p>
<pre><code class=css>
#div1 { position: absolute; left: 50px; top: 50px }
</code></pre>
<p id=its-containing-block-is-no-longer-body-i> its containing block is no
longer "body"; it becomes the <span>initial containing block</span>
(since there are no other positioned ancestor boxes).</p>
<p id=if-we-position-em1-as-well>If we position "em1" as well:</p>
<pre><code class=css>
#div1 { position: absolute; left: 50px; top: 50px }
#em1 { position: absolute; left: 100px; top: 100px }
</code></pre>
<p id=the-table-of-containing-blocks-becomes>the table of containing
blocks becomes:</p>
<table class=cb-example-table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>For box generated by
<th>C.B. is established by
<tr>
<td>html
<td>initial C.B. (UA-dependent)
<tr>
<td>body
<td>html
<tr>
<td>div1
<td>initial C.B.
<tr>
<td>p1
<td>div1
<tr>
<td>p2
<td>div1
<tr>
<td>em1
<td>div1
<tr>
<td>strong1
<td>em1
</table>
<p id=by-positioning-em1-its-containing-block-> By positioning "em1", its
containing block becomes the nearest positioned ancestor box (i.e., that
generated by "div1").</p>
</div>
<!-- End section: Containing blocks -->
<h2 id=normal-flow><span class=secno>4. </span><dfn id=normal-flow0
title="normal flow">Normal Flow</dfn></h2>
<p id=boxes-in-the-normal-flow-belong-to-a-for> Boxes in the normal flow
belong to a formatting context, which may be block or inline, but not both
simultaneously. See the CSS Basic Box Model module <a href="#CSS3BOX"
rel=biblioentry>[CSS3BOX]<!--{{!CSS3BOX}}--></a> for further details about
<a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#normal-flow">normal
flow</a>.</p>
<!-- End section: Normal Flow -->
<h2 id=floats><span class=secno>5. </span><dfn id=floats0
title="float|floated box|floating box">Floats</dfn></h2>
<p id=a-float-is-a-box-that-is-positioned-with> A float is a box that is
positioned within content, often left or right on the current line. The
most interesting characteristic of a float (or "floated" or "floating"
box") is that inline-level content may flow along its side (or be
prohibited from doing so by the ‘<code
class=property>clear</code>’ property) or around the floated box.
See the CSS 2.1 <a href="#CSS21"
rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a><!--CSS Floats module [[!CSS3FLOATS]]-->
for details about <a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#floats">floating boxes</a>.</p>
<!-- End section: Floats -->
<h2 id=positioning-schemes><span class=secno>6. </span><dfn
id=positioning-schemes1 title="positioning schemes">Positioning
schemes</dfn></h2>
<p id=in-css-a-box-may-be-laid-out-according-t>In CSS, a box may be laid
out according to three positioning schemes:
<ol>
<li id=normal-flow-in-css-normal-flow-includes-> Normal flow<br>
In CSS, <a href="#normal-flow0">normal flow</a> includes <a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#block-formatting">block
formatting</a> of block-level boxes, <a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#inline-formatting">inline
formatting</a> of inline-level boxes, and <a
href="#relative-positioning1" title="relative positioning">relative
positioning</a> of block-level and inline-level boxes.
<li id=floats-in-the-float-model-a-box-is-first> Floats<br>
In the <span title=floats>float</span> model, a box is first laid out
according to the <a href="#normal-flow0">normal flow</a>, then taken out
of the flow and positioned, typically to the left or right. Content may
flow along the side of a <span title=floats>float</span>.
<li id=absolute-positioning-in-the-absolute-pos> Absolute positioning<br>
In the absolute positioning model, a box is removed from the <a
href="#normal-flow0">normal flow</a> entirely (it has no impact on later
siblings) and assigned a position with respect to a <a
href="#containing-block0">containing block</a>.
</ol>
<p id=an-element-is-called-out-of-flow-if-it-i> An element is called
<em>out-of-flow</em> if it is <span title=floats>floated</span>,
absolutely positioned, or is the root element. An element is called
<em>in-flow</em> if it is not out-of-flow. The <em>flow of an element</em>
A is the set consisting of A and all in-flow elements whose nearest
out-of-flow ancestor is A.
<h3 id=relative-positioning><span class=secno>6.1. </span><dfn
id=relative-positioning1
title="relative positioning|relative position|relatively positioned">Relative
Positioning</dfn></h3>
<p id=once-a-box-has-been-laid-out-according-t> Once a box has been laid
out according to the <a href="#normal-flow0">normal flow</a> or <span
title=floats>floated</span>, it may be offset relative to this position.
This is called relative positioning. Offsetting a box (B1) in this way has
no effect on the box (B2) that follows: B2 is given a position as if B1
were not offset and B2 is not re-positioned after B1's offset is
applied. This implies that relative positioning may cause boxes to
overlap. However, if relative positioning causes an ‘<code
class=css>overflow: auto</code>’ or ‘<code class=css>overflow:
scroll</code>’ box to have overflow, the user agent must allow the
user to access this content (at its offset position), which, through the
creation of a scrolling mechanism, may affect layout.
<p id=a-relatively-positioned-box-keeps-its-no> A relatively positioned box
keeps its <a href="#normal-flow0">normal flow</a> size, including line
breaks and the space originally reserved for it.
<p id=a-relatively-positioned-box-establishes-> A relatively positioned box
establishes a new a new <a href="#containing-block0">containing block</a>
for absolutely positioned descendants. (This is a common use of relatively
positioned boxes.) The section on <a href="#containing-block0"
title="containing block">containing blocks</a> explains when a relatively
positioned box establishes a new <a href="#containing-block0">containing
block</a>.
<p id=for-relatively-positioned-elements-left-> For relatively positioned
elements, ‘<a href="#left"><code
class=property>left</code></a>’ and ‘<a href="#right"><code
class=property>right</code></a>’ move the box(es) horizontally,
without changing their size. ‘<a href="#left"><code
class=property>Left</code></a>’ moves the boxes to the right, and
‘<a href="#right"><code class=property>right</code></a>’ moves
them to the left. Since boxes are not split or stretched as a result of
‘<a href="#left"><code class=property>left</code></a>’ or
‘<a href="#right"><code class=property>right</code></a>’, the
used values are always: left = -right.
<p id=if-both-left-and-right-are-auto-their-in> If both ‘<a
href="#left"><code class=property>left</code></a>’ and ‘<a
href="#right"><code class=property>right</code></a>’ are
‘<code class=css>auto</code>’ (their initial values), the used
values are ‘<code class=css>0</code>’ (i.e., the boxes stay in
their original position).
<p id=if-left-is-auto-its-used-value-is-minus-> If ‘<a
href="#left"><code class=property>left</code></a>’ is ‘<code
class=css>auto</code>’, its used value is minus the value of
‘<a href="#right"><code class=property>right</code></a>’
(i.e., the boxes move to the left by the value of ‘<a
href="#right"><code class=property>right</code></a>’).
<p id=if-right-is-specified-as-auto-its-used-v>If ‘<a
href="#right"><code class=property>right</code></a>’ is specified as
‘<code class=css>auto</code>’, its used value is minus the
value of ‘<a href="#left"><code
class=property>left</code></a>’.
<p id=if-neither-left-nor-right-is-auto-the-po> If neither ‘<a
href="#left"><code class=property>left</code></a>’ nor ‘<a
href="#right"><code class=property>right</code></a>’ is ‘<code
class=css>auto</code>’, the position is over-constrained, and one of
them has to be ignored. If the ‘<code
class=property>direction</code>’ property of the <a
href="#containing-block0">containing block</a> is ‘<code
class=css>ltr</code>’, the value of ‘<a href="#left"><code
class=property>left</code></a>’ wins and ‘<a
href="#right"><code class=property>right</code></a>’ becomes
-‘<a href="#left"><code class=property>left</code></a>’. If
‘<code class=property>direction</code>’ of the containing
block is ‘<code class=css>rtl</code>’, ‘<a
href="#right"><code class=property>right</code></a>’ wins and
‘<a href="#left"><code class=property>left</code></a>’ is
ignored.
<div class=example>
<p id=the-following-three-rules-are-equivalent>The following three rules
are equivalent:</p>
<pre><code class=css>
div.a8 { position: relative; direction: ltr; left: -1em; right: auto }
div.a8 { position: relative; direction: ltr; left: auto; right: 1em }
div.a8 { position: relative; direction: ltr; left: -1em; right: 5em }
</code></pre>
</div>
<p id=the-top-and-bottom-properties-move-relat> The ‘<a
href="#top"><code class=property>top</code></a>’ and ‘<a
href="#bottom"><code class=property>bottom</code></a>’ properties
move relatively positioned element(s) up or down without changing their
size. ‘<a href="#top"><code class=property>Top</code></a>’
moves the boxes down, and ‘<a href="#bottom"><code
class=property>bottom</code></a>’ moves them up. Since boxes are not
split or stretched as a result of ‘<a href="#top"><code
class=property>top</code></a>’ or ‘<a href="#bottom"><code
class=property>bottom</code></a>’, the used values are always: top =
-bottom.
<p id=if-top-and-bottom-are-auto-their-used-va>If ‘<a
href="#top"><code class=property>top</code></a>’ and ‘<a
href="#bottom"><code class=property>bottom</code></a>’ are
‘<code class=css>auto</code>’, their used values are both
‘<code class=css>0</code>’.
<p id=if-one-of-them-top-or-bottom-is-auto-the> If one of them, ‘<a
href="#top"><code class=property>top</code></a>’ or ‘<a
href="#bottom"><code class=property>bottom</code></a>’, is
‘<code class=css>auto</code>’, the ‘<code
class=css>auto</code>’ value becomes the negative of the other.
<p id=if-neither-top-and-bottom-is-auto-bottom> If neither ‘<a
href="#top"><code class=property>top</code></a>’ and ‘<a
href="#bottom"><code class=property>bottom</code></a>’ is
‘<code class=css>auto</code>’, ‘<a href="#bottom"><code
class=property>bottom</code></a>’ is ignored (i.e., the used value
of ‘<a href="#bottom"><code class=property>bottom</code></a>’
will be minus the value of ‘<a href="#top"><code
class=property>top</code></a>’).
<p class=note id=note-although-relative-positioning-could> Note, Although
relative positioning could be used as a form of superscripting and
subscripting, the line height is not automatically adjusted to take the
positioning into consideration. See the description of <a
href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#line-height">line height
calculations</a> for more information.
<p id=examples-of-relative-positioning-are-pro> Examples of relative
positioning are provided in the section comparing <a
href="#normal-flow0">normal flow</a>, <span title=floats>floats</span>,
and absolute positioning.</p>
<!-- End section: Relative positioning -->
<h3 id=absolute-positioning><span class=secno>6.2. </span><span
class=index-def id=absolute-positioning2
title="absolute positioning|absolute position|absolutely positioned">Absolute
positioning</span></h3>
<p id=in-the-absolute-positioning-model-a-box-> In the absolute positioning
model, a box is explicitly offset with respect to its <a
href="#containing-block0">containing block</a>. It is removed from the <a
href="#normal-flow0">normal flow</a> entirely (it has no impact on later
siblings). An absolutely positioned box establishes a new <a
href="#containing-block0">containing block</a> for normal flow children
and absolutely (but not fixed) positioned descendants. However, the
contents of an absolutely positioned element do not flow around any other
boxes. They may obscure the contents of another box (or be obscured
themselves), depending on the stack levels of the overlapping boxes.
<p id=references-in-this-specification-to-an-a> References in this
specification to an <span class=index-def id=absolutely-positioned-element
title="absolute positioned element/box">absolutely positioned
element</span> (or its box) imply that the element's ‘<a
href="#position"><code class=property>position</code></a>’ property
has the value <a href="#absolute"
title="'position'!!''absolute''">‘<code
class=css>absolute</code>’</a> or <a href="#fixed"
title="'position'!!''fixed''">‘<code
class=css>fixed</code>’</a>.</p>
<!-- End section: Absolute positioning -->
<h3 id=page-positioning><span class=secno>6.3. </span><span class=index-def
id=page-positioning1
title="page positioning|page position|page positioned">Page
positioning</span></h3>
<p id=in-the-page-positioning-model-a-box-is-e> In the page positioning
model, a box is explicitly offset with respect to its <span>initial
containing block</span>. It is removed from the <a
href="#normal-flow0">normal flow</a> entirely (it has no impact on later