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<!DOCTYPE html><html lang=en><head>
<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=../csslogo.ico rel="shortcut icon" type=image/x-icon>
<style>
body {
background: url("https://www.w3.org/StyleSheets/TR/logo-ED") top left no-repeat white;
background-attachment: fixed;
color: black;
font-family: sans-serif;
margin: 0 auto;
max-width: 50em;
padding: 2em 1em 2em 70px;
}
:link { color: #00C; background: transparent }
:visited { color: #609; background: transparent }
a[href]:active { color: #C00; background: transparent }
a[href]:hover { background: #ffa }
a[href] img { border-style: none }
h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 { text-align: left }
h1, h2, h3 { color: #005A9C; }
h1 { font: 170% sans-serif }
h2 { font: 140% sans-serif }
h3 { font: 120% sans-serif }
h4 { font: bold 100% sans-serif }
h5 { font: italic 100% sans-serif }
h6 { font: small-caps 100% sans-serif }
.hide { display: none }
div.head { margin-bottom: 1em }
div.head h1 { margin-top: 2em; clear: both }
div.head table { margin-left: 2em; margin-top: 2em }
p.copyright { font-size: small }
p.copyright small { font-size: small }
pre { margin-left: 2em }
dt { font-weight: bold }
ul.toc, ol.toc {
list-style: none;
}
</style>
<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;
}
table.lpr {
border-collapse: collapse;
}
.lpr td, .lpr th {
border: 1px solid;
text-align: center;
}
.lpr col {
background: rgb(221, 238, 255);
border-right: 2px solid;
font-weight: bold;
padding: 0 5px;
}
.lpr div {
font-weight: bold;
-moz-transform: rotate(-90deg) translatex(-0.5em);
-ms-transform: rotate(-90deg) translatex(-0.5em);
-o-transform: rotate(-90deg) translatex(-0.5em);
-webkit-transform: rotate(-90deg) translatex(-0.5em);
transform: rotate(-90deg) translatex(-0.5em);
width: 1.5em;
}
.lpr th:first-child {
border: none;
background: white;
}
.lpr tbody td:first-child {
font-weight: normal;
}
.lpr thead td {
background: rgb(238, 238, 238);
font-weight: bold;
padding: 0 5px;
vertical-align: bottom;
white-space: nowrap;
}
.lpr thead tr:nth-child(2) {
border-bottom: 2px solid;
}
</style>
</head>
<body class=h-entry>
<div class=head>
<p data-fill-with=logo><a class=logo href=http://www.w3.org/>
<img alt=W3C height=48 src=https://www.w3.org/Icons/w3c_home width=72>
</a>
</p>
<h1 class="p-name no-ref" id=title>CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3</h1>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc no-ref heading settled" id=subtitle><span class=content>Editor’s Draft,
<span class=dt-updated><span class=value-title title=20141027>27 October 2014</span></span></span></h2>
<div data-fill-with=spec-metadata><dl><dt>This version:<dd><a class=u-url href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-position/>http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-position/</a><dt>Latest version:<dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-positioning/>http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-positioning/</a><dt>Previous Versions:<dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/2012/WD-css3-positioning-20120207/ rel=previous>http://www.w3.org/TR/2012/WD-css3-positioning-20120207/</a><dt>Feedback:<dd><span><a href="mailto:www-style@w3.org?subject=[css-position] feedback">www-style@w3.org</a> with subject line “<kbd>[css-position] <var>… message topic …</var></kbd>” (<a href=http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-style/ rel=discussion>archives</a>)</span><dt>Editors:<dd><div class="p-author h-card vcard"><a class="p-name fn u-email email" href=mailto:ratan@microsoft.com>Rossen Atanassov</a> (<span class="p-org org">Microsoft</span>)</div><dd><div class="p-author h-card vcard"><a class="p-name fn u-email email" href=mailto:arronei@microsoft.com>Arron Eicholz</a> (<span class="p-org org">Microsoft</span>)</div><dt>Issues list:<dd><span><a href=http://wiki.csswg.org/spec/css-position/>in Wiki</a></span></dl></div>
<div data-fill-with=warning></div>
<p class=copyright data-fill-with=copyright><a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#Copyright>Copyright</a> © 2014 <a href=http://www.w3.org/><abbr title="World Wide Web Consortium">W3C</abbr></a><sup>®</sup> (<a href=http://www.csail.mit.edu/><abbr title="Massachusetts Institute of Technology">MIT</abbr></a>, <a href=http://www.ercim.eu/><abbr title="European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics">ERCIM</abbr></a>, <a href=http://www.keio.ac.jp/>Keio</a>, <a href=http://ev.buaa.edu.cn/>Beihang</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>
<hr title="Separator for header">
</div>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc no-ref heading settled" id=abstract><span class=content>Abstract</span></h2>
<div class=p-summary data-fill-with=abstract><p>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 data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=CSS21>[CSS21]</a>), which builds on CSS level 1 <a data-biblio-type=informative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css1 title=CSS1>[CSS1]</a>. The main extensions compared to level 2 are the ability to position elements based on CSS Region boxes, the ability to specify different containing blocks for elements and sticky positioning. <p>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.</p>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS/>CSS</a> is a language for describing the rendering of structured documents
(such as HTML and XML)
on screen, on paper, in speech, etc.</div>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc no-ref heading settled" id=status><span class=content>Status of this document</span></h2>
<div data-fill-with=status><p>
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>
The (<a href=http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-style/>archived</a>) public mailing list
<a href="mailto:www-style@w3.org?Subject=%5Bcss-position%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 “css-position” in the subject,
preferably like this:
“[css-position] <em>…summary of comment…</em>”
<p>
This document was produced by the <a href=http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/members>CSS Working Group</a>
(part of the <a href=http://www.w3.org/Style/>Style Activity</a>).
<p>
This document was produced by a group operating under
the <a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20040205/>5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy</a>.
W3C maintains a <a href=http://www.w3.org/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=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20040205/#def-essential>Essential Claim(s)</a>
must disclose the information in accordance with <a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20040205/#sec-Disclosure>section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy</a>.
<p>
This document is governed by the <a href=http://www.w3.org/2014/Process-20140801/>1 August 2014 W3C Process Document</a>.
</div>
<div data-fill-with=at-risk></div>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc no-ref heading settled" id=contents><span class=content>Table of Contents</span></h2>
<div data-fill-with=table-of-contents><ul class=toc><li><a href=#intro><span class=secno>1</span> <span class=content>
Introduction</span></a><ul class=toc><li><a href=#placement><span class=secno>1.1</span> <span class=content>
Module Interactions</span></a><li><a href=#values><span class=secno>1.2</span> <span class=content>
Values</span></a></ul><li><a href=#vp><span class=secno>2</span> <span class=content>
The <span data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" title=viewport>Viewport</span></span></a><li><a href=#cb><span class=secno>3</span> <span class=content>
Containing Blocks</span></a><ul class=toc><li><a href=#def-cb><span class=secno>3.1</span> <span class=content>
Definition of <span data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" title="containing block">containing block</span></span></a></ul><li><a href=#nf><span class=secno>4</span> <span class=content>
<span data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" title="normal flow">Normal Flow</span></span></a><li><a href=#floats><span class=secno>5</span> <span class=content>
<span data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" title="float|floated box|floating box">Floats</span></span></a><li><a href=#pos-sch><span class=secno>6</span> <span class=content>
<span data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" title="positioning schemes">Positioning schemes</span></span></a><ul class=toc><li><a href=#rel-pos><span class=secno>6.1</span> <span class=content>
Relative positioning</span></a><li><a href=#sticky-pos><span class=secno>6.2</span> <span class=content>
Sticky positioning</span></a><li><a href=#abs-pos><span class=secno>6.3</span> <span class=content>
Absolute positioning</span></a><li><a href=#center-pos><span class=secno>6.4</span> <span class=content>
Center positioning</span></a><li><a href=#page-positioning><span class=secno>6.5</span> <span class=content>
Page positioning</span></a><li><a href=#fixed-pos><span class=secno>6.6</span> <span class=content>
Fixed positioning</span></a><li><a href=#position-property><span class=secno>6.7</span> <span class=content>
Choosing a positioning scheme: <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=position>position</span> property</span></a><li><a href=#box-offsets-trbl><span class=secno>6.8</span> <span class=content>
Box offsets: <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=top>top</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=right>right</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=bottom>bottom</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=left>left</span></span></a><li><a href=#logical-box-offsets-beaso><span class=secno>6.9</span> <span class=content>
Logical box offsets: <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=offset-before>offset-before</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=offset-end>offset-end</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=offset-after>offset-after</span> and <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=offset-start>offset-start</span></span></a></ul><li><a href=#position-root><span class=secno>7</span> <span class=content>
Choosing a different containing block for positioning</span></a><ul class=toc><li><a href=#attachment-properties><span class=secno>7.1</span> <span class=content>
Attachment properties: <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=attachment-type>attachment-type</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=attachment-top>attachment-top</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=attachment-right>attachment-right</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=attachment-bottom>attachment-bottom</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=attachment-left>attachment-left</span>, and <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=attachment>attachment</span></span></a></ul><li><a href=#size-and-position-details><span class=secno>8</span> <span class=content>
Sizing and positioning details</span></a><ul class=toc><li><a href=#abs-non-replaced-width><span class=secno>8.1</span> <span class=content>
The width of absolute, page or fixed positioned, non-replaced elements</span></a><li><a href=#center-non-replaced-width><span class=secno>8.2</span> <span class=content>
The width of a center positioned, non-replaced elements</span></a><li><a href=#abs-replaced-width><span class=secno>8.3</span> <span class=content>
The width of absolute, page or fixed positioned, replaced elements</span></a><li><a href=#center-replaced-width><span class=secno>8.4</span> <span class=content>
The width of a center positioned, replaced elements</span></a><li><a href=#abs-non-replaced-height><span class=secno>8.5</span> <span class=content>
The height of absolute, page or fixed positioned, non-replaced elements</span></a><li><a href=#center-non-replaced-height><span class=secno>8.6</span> <span class=content>
The height of a center positioned, non-replaced elements</span></a><li><a href=#abs-replaced-height><span class=secno>8.7</span> <span class=content>
The height of absolute, page or fixed positioned, replaced elements</span></a><li><a href=#center-replaced-height><span class=secno>8.8</span> <span class=content>
The height of a center positioned, replaced elements</span></a><li><a href=#root-height><span class=secno>8.9</span> <span class=content>
Auto heights for block formatting context roots</span></a></ul><li><a href=#dis-pos-flo><span class=secno>9</span> <span class=content>
Relationships between <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=display>display</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=position>position</span>, and <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=float>float</span></span></a><li><a href=#comparison><span class=secno>10</span> <span class=content>
Comparison of normal flow, floats, and positioning</span></a><ul class=toc><li><a href=#comp-normal-flow><span class=secno>10.1</span> <span class=content>
Normal flow</span></a><li><a href=#comp-relpos><span class=secno>10.2</span> <span class=content>
Relative positioning</span></a><li><a href=#comp-floating><span class=secno>10.3</span> <span class=content>
Floating a box</span></a><li><a href=#comp-abspos><span class=secno>10.4</span> <span class=content>
Absolute positioning</span></a><li><a href=#comp-pagepos><span class=secno>10.5</span> <span class=content>
Page positioning</span></a></ul><li><a href=#layered-presentation><span class=secno>11</span> <span class=content>
Layered presentation</span></a><li><a href=#det-stacking-context><span class=secno>12</span> <span class=content>
Detailed stacking context</span></a><ul class=toc><li><a href=#definitions-stack><span class=secno>12.1</span> <span class=content>
Definitions</span></a><li><a href=#painting-order><span class=secno>12.2</span> <span class=content>
Painting order</span></a><li><a href=#stacking-notes><span class=secno>12.3</span> <span class=content>
Notes</span></a></ul><li><a href=#ack><span class=secno>13</span> <span class=content>
Acknowledgments</span></a><li><a href=#conformance><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>
Conformance</span></a><ul class=toc><li><a href=#conventions><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>
Document conventions</span></a><li><a href=#conformance-classes><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>
Conformance classes</span></a><li><a href=#partial><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>
Partial implementations</span></a><li><a href=#experimental><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>
Experimental implementations</span></a><li><a href=#testing><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>
Non-experimental implementations</span></a></ul><li><a href=#references><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>References</span></a><ul class=toc><li><a href=#normative><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>Normative References</span></a><li><a href=#informative><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>Informative References</span></a></ul><li><a href=#index><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>Index</span></a><li><a href=#property-index><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>Property Index</span></a><li><a href=#issues-index><span class=secno></span> <span class=content>Issues Index</span></a></ul></div>
<h2 class="heading settled" data-level=1 id=intro><span class=secno>1. </span><span class=content>
Introduction</span><a class=self-link href=#intro></a></h2>
<em>This section is not normative.</em>
<p>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>
<p>In <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=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:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<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>
positioning scheme (<a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a>, float, and absolute positioning).
<li>
relationships between elements in the
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/conform.html#doctree>document tree</a>.
<li>
external information (e.g., viewport size, intrinsic dimensions of images, etc.).
</ul>
<p>The properties defined in this module apply to both continuous media and paged
media.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=1.1 id=placement><span class=secno>1.1. </span><span class=content>
Module Interactions</span><a class=self-link href=#placement></a></h3>
<p>This module replaced and extends the positioning scheme features defined in
<a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=CSS21>[CSS21]</a> sections:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#viewport>9.1.1 The viewport</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#containing-block>9.1.2 Containing blocks</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#positioning-scheme>9.3 Positioning schemes</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#relative-positioning>9.4.3 Relative positioning</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#absolute-positioning>9.6 Absolute positioning</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#dis-pos-flo>9.7 Relationships between <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css2/visuren.html#propdef-display title=display>display</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a>, and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css2/visuren.html#propdef-float title=float>float</a></a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#comparison>9.8 Comparison of normal flow, floats, and absolute positioning</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#layers>9.9 Layered presentation</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#containing-block-details>10.1 Definition of "containing block"</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#abs-non-replaced-width>10.3.7 Absolutely positioned, non-replaced elements</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#abs-replaced-width>10.3.8 Absolutely positioned, replaced elements</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#abs-non-replaced-height>10.6.4 Absolutely positioned, non-replaced elements</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#abs-replaced-height>10.6.5 Absolutely positioned replaced elements</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#root-height>10.6.7 <span class=css>Auto</span> heights for block formatting context roots</a>
<li>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/zindex.html>Appendix E. Elaborate description of Stacking Contexts</a>
</ul>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=1.2 id=values><span class=secno>1.2. </span><span class=content>
Values</span><a class=self-link href=#values></a></h3>
<p>This specification follows the CSS property definition conventions from <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=CSS21>[CSS21]</a>.</p>
<p>Value types not defined in this specification are defined in CSS Level 2
Revision 1 <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=CSS21>[CSS21]</a>. Other CSS modules may expand the definitions of these
value types: for example <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css3val title=CSS3VAL>[CSS3VAL]</a>, when combined with this module, expands
the definition of the <length> value type as used in this specification.</p>
<p>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>
<h2 class="heading settled" data-level=2 id=vp><span class=secno>2. </span><span class=content>
The <dfn data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" id=viewport title=viewport>Viewport<a class=self-link href=#viewport></a></dfn></span><a class=self-link href=#vp></a></h2>
<p>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>
<p>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>
<h2 class="heading settled" data-level=3 id=cb><span class=secno>3. </span><span class=content>
Containing Blocks</span><a class=self-link href=#cb></a></h2>
<p>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>
<p>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>.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=3.1 id=def-cb><span class=secno>3.1. </span><span class=content>
Definition of <dfn data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" id=containing-block>containing block<a class=self-link href=#containing-block></a></dfn></span><a class=self-link href=#def-cb></a></h3>
<p>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 <span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>static</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>static</span></span> or
<span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>relative</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>relative</span></span> element is defined
in the Box Model <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css3box title=CSS3BOX>[CSS3BOX]</a>. The containing block of a
<span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>sticky</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>sticky</span></span> element is the same as for a
<span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>relative</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>relative</span></span> element. For
<span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>fixed</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>fixed</span></span>,
<span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>absolute</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>absolute</span></span>,
<span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>center</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>center</span></span> and
<span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>page</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>page</span></span>, it is defined as follows:</p>
<ol>
<li>
If the element has <span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>fixed</fake-maybe-placeholder>">'positioned: fixed'</span>, the containing block is established by the
<a data-link-type=dfn href=#viewport title=viewport>viewport</a> in the case of continuous media or the page area in
the case of paged media.
<li>
If the element has <span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>absolute</fake-maybe-placeholder>">'position: absolute'</span>,
the containing block is established by the nearest ancestor with a <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a>
other than <span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>static</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>static</span></span>, in the following way:
<ol>
<li>
In the case that the ancestor is block-level, the containing block is formed
by the padding edge of the ancestor.
<li>
In the case that the ancestor is inline-level, the containing block depends
on the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-writing-modes-3/#propdef-direction title=direction>direction</a> property of the ancestor:
<ol>
<li>
If the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-writing-modes-3/#propdef-direction title=direction>direction</a> is <span class=css>ltr</span>, 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>
If the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-writing-modes-3/#propdef-direction title=direction>direction</a> is <span class=css>rtl</span>, 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>
Note, in some cases when a line wraps it may seem as if the left
and right positions are swapped.
</p>
</ol>
</ol>
<li>
I the element has <span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>center</fake-maybe-placeholder>">'position: center'</span>, the containing block is established
by the nearest ancestor with a <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a> other than <span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>static</fake-maybe-placeholder>"><span class=css>static</span></span>, in the following way:
<ol>
<li>
In the case that the ancestor is block-level, the containing block is formed
by the padding edge of the ancestor.
<li>
In the case that the ancestor is inline-level, the containing block depends
on the content edges of the boxes generated by the ancestor. The top most,
right most, bottom most and left most content edges of all the boxes
generated by the ancestor determine the edges for the containing block.
</ol>
<li>
If the element has <span title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>page</fake-maybe-placeholder>">'position: page'</span>
and the element is within paged media or within a rerion, the containing
block is the <a data-link-type=dfn href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-display-3/#initial-containing-block title="initial containing block">initial containing block</a>. This is the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#viewport title=viewport>viewport</a>
or the page area when in paged media. In the case of CSS Regions
<a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css3-regions title=CSS3-REGIONS>[CSS3-REGIONS]</a> this is the individual region. When a page positioned
element is not in paged media or a region the containing block is determined
per the absolute positioning model.
<li>
If there is no such ancestor, the containing block is the <a data-link-type=dfn href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-display-3/#initial-containing-block title="initial containing block">initial
containing block</a>.
</ol>
<p>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>
<p>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:</p>
<ul>
<li>on the current page,</li>
<li>on a subsequent page, or</li>
<li>may omit it altogether.</li>
</ul>
<p class=note>
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.
</p>
<div class=example>
<p>With no positioning, the containing blocks (C.B.) in the following document:</p>
<pre><code class=html>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<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>are established as follows:</p>
<table class=cb-example-table>
<tr><th>For box generated by </th>
<th>C.B. is established by</tr>
<tr><td>html<td>initial C.B. (UA-dependent)</tr>
<tr><td>body<td>html</tr>
<tr><td>div1<td>body</tr>
<tr><td>p1<td>div1</tr>
<tr><td>p2<td>div1</tr>
<tr><td>em1<td>p2</tr>
<tr><td>strong1<td>p2</tr>
</table>
<p>If we position "div1":</p>
<pre><code>
#div1 { position: absolute; left: 50px; top: 50px }
</code></pre>
<p>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>If we position "em1" as well:</p>
<pre><code>
#div1 { position: absolute; left: 50px; top: 50px }
#em1 { position: absolute; left: 100px; top: 100px }
</code></pre>
<p>the table of containing blocks becomes:</p>
<table class=cb-example-table>
<tr><th>For box generated by</th>
<th>C.B. is established by</tr>
<tr><td>html<td>initial C.B. (UA-dependent)</tr>
<tr><td>body<td>html</tr>
<tr><td>div1<td>initial C.B.</tr>
<tr><td>p1<td>div1</tr>
<tr><td>p2<td>div1</tr>
<tr><td>em1<td>div1</tr>
<tr><td>strong1<td>em1</tr>
</table>
<p>By positioning "em1", its containing block becomes the nearest positioned ancestor box
(i.e., that generated by "div1").</p>
</div>
<h2 class="heading settled" data-level=4 id=nf><span class=secno>4. </span><span class=content>
<dfn data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" id=normal-flow title="normal flow">Normal Flow<a class=self-link href=#normal-flow></a></dfn></span><a class=self-link href=#nf></a></h2>
<p>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 data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css3box title=CSS3BOX>[CSS3BOX]</a> for further details about <a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#normal-flow>normal flow</a>.</p>
<h2 class="heading settled" data-level=5 id=floats><span class=secno>5. </span><span class=content>
<dfn data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" id=float title="float|floated box|floating box">Floats<a class=self-link href=#float></a></dfn></span><a class=self-link href=#floats></a></h2>
<p>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 <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css2/visuren.html#propdef-clear title=clear>clear</a> property) or around the floated box.
See the CSS 2.1 <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=CSS21>[CSS21]</a> for details
about <a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visuren.html#floats>floating boxes</a>.</p>
<h2 class="heading settled" data-level=6 id=pos-sch><span class=secno>6. </span><span class=content>
<dfn data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" id=positioning-schemes title="positioning schemes">Positioning schemes<a class=self-link href=#positioning-schemes></a></dfn></span><a class=self-link href=#pos-sch></a></h2>
<p>In CSS, a box may be laid out according to three positioning schemes:</p>
<ol>
<li>
Normal flow<br>
In CSS, <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">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 <span title="relative positioning">relative</span> and <span title="sticky positioning">sticky</span> positioning of block-level and inline-level boxes.
<li>
Floats<br>
In the <span title=floats>float</span> model, a box is first laid out according to the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">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>
Absolute positioning<br>
In the absolute positioning model, a box is removed from the <span>normal
flow</span> entirely (it has no impact on later siblings) and assigned a
position with respect to a <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a>.
</ol>
<p>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.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=6.1 id=rel-pos><span class=secno>6.1. </span><span class=content>
Relative positioning</span><a class=self-link href=#rel-pos></a></h3>
<p>Once a box has been laid out according to the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">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 'overflow: auto' or 'overflow: scroll' 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>
<p>A relatively positioned box keeps its <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a> size, including
line breaks and the space originally reserved for it.</p>
<p>A relatively positioned box establishes a new a new <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a> for
absolutely positioned descendants. (This is a common use of relatively positioned
boxes.) The section on <span title="containing block">containing blocks</span>
explains when a relatively positioned box establishes a new <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a>.</p>
<p>For relatively positioned elements, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> move the box(es) horizontally,
without changing their size. <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=Left>Left</a> moves the boxes to the right, and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> moves
them to the left. Since boxes are not split or stretched as a result of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> or
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a>, the used values are always: left = -right.</p>
<p>If both <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> are <span class=css>auto</span> (their initial values), the used values
are <span class=css>0</span> (i.e., the boxes stay in their original position).</p>
<p>If <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> is <span class=css>auto</span>, its used value is minus the value of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> (i.e., the
boxes move to the left by the value of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a>).</p>
<p>If <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> is specified as <span class=css>auto</span>, its used value is minus the value of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a>.</p>
<p>If neither <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> nor <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> is <span class=css>auto</span>, the position is over-constrained, and
one of them has to be ignored. If the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-writing-modes-3/#propdef-direction title=direction>direction</a> property of the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing
block</a> is <span class=css>ltr</span>, the value of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> wins and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> becomes -<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a>.
If <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-writing-modes-3/#propdef-direction title=direction>direction</a> of the containing block is <span class=css>rtl</span>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> wins and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> is
ignored.</p>
<div class=example>
<p>The following three rules are equivalent:</p>
<pre><code>
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>The <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> properties move relatively positioned element(s) up or
down without changing their size. <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=Top>Top</a> moves the boxes down, and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> moves
them up. Since boxes are not split or stretched as a result of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> or <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a>,
the used values are always: top = -bottom.</p>
<p>If <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> are <span class=css>auto</span>, their used values are both <span class=css>0</span>.</p>
<p>If one of them, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> or <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a>, is <span class=css>auto</span>, the <span class=css>auto</span> value becomes the
negative of the other.</p>
<p>If neither <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> is <span class=css>auto</span>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> is ignored (i.e., the used
value of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> will be minus the value of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a>).</p>
<p class=note>
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>
<p>Examples of relative positioning are provided in the section comparing <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal
flow</a>, <span title=floats>floats</span>, and absolute positioning.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=6.2 id=sticky-pos><span class=secno>6.2. </span><span class=content>
Sticky positioning</span><a class=self-link href=#sticky-pos></a></h3>
<p>A <span>stickily positioned</span> box is positioned similarly to a <span>relatively
positioned</span> box, but the offset is computed with reference to the nearest
ancestor with a <span>scrolling box</span>, or the viewport if no ancestor has
a <span>scrolling box</span>.</p>
<p>Specifically, once a box has been laid out according to the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a>
or <span title=floats>floated</span>, its sticky offset is computed as described
below. 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 sticky positioning may cause
boxes to overlap. However, if sticky positioning causes an 'overflow: auto' or
'overflow: scroll' 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>
<p>A stickily positioned box keeps its <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a> size, including line
breaks and the space originally reserved for it.</p>
<p>A stickily positioned box establishes a new a new <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a> for
absolutely positioned descendants, just as relative positioning does. The section
on <span title="containing block">containing blocks</span> explains when a
stickily positioned box establishes a new <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a>.</p>
<p>For stickily positioned elements, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> are
offsets from the respective edges of its flow box which are used to constrain
the element’s offset. Percentage values of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> refer to the
width of its flow box; percentage values of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> refer to the
height of its flow box.</p>
<p class=issue id=issue-86601ab4><a class=self-link href=#issue-86601ab4></a>
Describe which element font-size-relative units are resolved against
</p>
<p>The offset of a stickily positioned box is computed as follows:</p>
<ol>
<li>
A rectangle is computed relative to the containing block of the stickily
positioned element, by insetting its flow box rectangle on each side by offsets
computed from the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> properties of the stickily
positioned element.
<p class=issue id=issue-6be9cee7><a class=self-link href=#issue-6be9cee7></a>
Say what happens if this rectangle is empty
</p>
<li>
The intersection is taken between the resulting rectangle, and the containing
block of the stickily positioned element. The result, termed the the
<em>sticky-constraint rectangle</em>, is a rectangle used to constrain the
location of the stickily positioned element.
<li>
If the stickily positioned element’s <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> style is not <span class=css>auto</span>, and the stickily
positioned element projects above the top of the <em>sticky-constraint
rectangle</em>, the stickily positioned element is moved down until it is fully
contained in the <em>sticky-constraint rectangle</em>.
<li>
If the stickily positioned element’s <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> style is not <span class=css>auto</span>, and the stickily
positioned element projects below the bottom of the <em>sticky-constraint
rectangle</em>, the stickily positioned element is moved up until it is fully
contained in the <em>sticky-constraint rectangle</em>.
<li>
If the stickily positioned element’s <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> style is not <span class=css>auto</span>, and the stickily
positioned element projects outside the left of the <em>sticky-constraint
rectangle</em>, the stickily positioned element is moved right until it is fully
contained in the <em>sticky-constraint rectangle</em>.
<li>
If the stickily positioned element’s <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a> style is not <span class=css>auto</span>, and the stickily
positioned element projects outside the right of the <em>sticky-constraint
rectangle</em>, the stickily positioned element is moved left until it is fully
contained in the <em>sticky-constraint rectangle</em>.
</ol>
<p>When computing containement of the stickily positioned element within its
containing block, margins on the stickily positioned element are taken into
account.</p>
<p class=issue id=issue-09e98f99><a class=self-link href=#issue-09e98f99></a>
Say what happens if it already overflows the containing block
</p>
<p class=issue id=issue-e6070342><a class=self-link href=#issue-e6070342></a>
Do marins collapse between the stickily positioned element and its containing
block element?
</p>
<p>Intersection between the stickily positioned element and the bottom of the
<em>sticky-constraint rectangle</em> limits movement in any direction, so the
offset never pushes the stickily positioned element outside of its containing
block. However, when the element is free to move within its containing block
as the page is scrolled, it appears to be pinned to the relevant flow root
edges, similarly to a fixed position element.</p>
<p class=note>
Note that a stickily positioned element with non-auto <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a> style and auto
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a> style will only ever be pushed down by sticky positioning; it will
never be offset upwards.
</p>
<p class=note>
Multiple stickily positioned elements in the same container are offset
independently. Sticky position offsets may cause them to overlap.
</p>
<p class=issue id=issue-0a53b8c3><a class=self-link href=#issue-0a53b8c3></a>
Does the margin on the stickily positioned element affect its distance from
the flow root edge?
</p>
<p class=issue id=issue-12e9f6da><a class=self-link href=#issue-12e9f6da></a>
Sticky positioning should really be defined in terms of the nearest scrollable
ancestor, but there is currently no such term defined elsewhere in CSS. CSSOM
View refers to "scrolling boxes." CSS Overflow has yet to pull in the relevant
text from CSS Box, and CSS Box has an old, confusing definition of "flow root"
which is almost (but probably not quite) what we want here. This spec refers
to "flow root," since that’s the closest thing currently specced somewhere,
but this is not optimal.
</p>
<div class=example>
The following example is the same as the previous one, but now it is explained:
<pre>EM { font-style: italic }</pre>
</div>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=6.3 id=abs-pos><span class=secno>6.3. </span><span class=content>
Absolute positioning</span><a class=self-link href=#abs-pos></a></h3>
<p>In the absolute positioning model, a box is explicitly offset with respect to
its <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a>. It is removed from the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a> entirely
(it has no impact on later siblings). An absolutely positioned box establishes
a new <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a> for normal flow children and absolutely (but not
fixed or page) 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>
<p>References in this specification to an absolutely positioned element (or its
box) imply that the element's <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a> property has the value
<span class=css>absolute</span> or <span class=css>fixed</span>.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=6.4 id=center-pos><span class=secno>6.4. </span><span class=content>
Center positioning</span><a class=self-link href=#center-pos></a></h3>
<p>In the center positioning model, a box is explicitly centered with respect to
its <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a>. It is removed from the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a> entirely
(it has no impact on later siblings). A center positioned box establishes a new
<a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a> for <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a> children and absolutely (but not
fixed or page) positioned descendants. However, the contents of an center
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>
<p>References in this specification to an <span title="center positioned element/box">center positioned element</span>
(or its box) imply that the element's <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a> property has the value
<span class=css>center</span>.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=6.5 id=page-positioning><span class=secno>6.5. </span><span class=content>
Page positioning</span><a class=self-link href=#page-positioning></a></h3>
<p>In the page positioning model, a box is explicitly offset with respect to its
<a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a>. It is removed from the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a> entirely
(it has no impact on later siblings). A page positioned box establishes a new
<a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a> for <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a> children and absolutely (but
not fixed or other page) positioned descendants. However, the contents of a page
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>
<p>For <a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/page.html>paged media</a>, boxes with
page positions are only generated on the initial page where the page position
element exists. Boxes with page position that are larger than the page area
are clipped and the remaining part of the box is placed on the following page.</p>
<p>References in this specification to a <span title="page positioned element/box">page positioned element</span>
(or its box) imply that the element's <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a> property has the value
<span class=css>page</span>.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=6.6 id=fixed-pos><span class=secno>6.6. </span><span class=content>
Fixed positioning</span><a class=self-link href=#fixed-pos></a></h3>
<p>Fixed positioning is similar to absolute positioning. The only difference is
that for a fixed positioned box, the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a> is established
by the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#viewport title=viewport>viewport</a>. For <a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/media.html#continuous-media-group>continuous media</a>,
fixed boxes do not move when the document is scrolled. In this respect, they are similar
to <a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/colors.html#background-properties>fixed background images</a>.
For <a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/media.html#paged-media-group>paged
media</a>, boxes with fixed positions are repeated on every page. This is useful
for placing, for instance, a signature at the bottom of each page. Boxes with
fixed position that are larger than the page area are clipped. Parts of the
fixed position box that are not visible in the <span>initial containing
block</span> will not print.</p>
<div class=example>
<p>Authors may use fixed positioning to create the following presentation:</p>
<div class=figure>
<p><img alt="Example of frame layout" src=images/frame.png>
<span class=dlink><a href=images/longdesc/frame-desc.html id=img-frame title="Long description for frame layout example">[D]</a></span>
<span class=slink> <a href=source/frame-src.html id=source-frame title="Source code for frame layout example">[S]</a></span></p>
</div>
<p>This might be achieved with the following HTML document and style rules:</p>
<pre><code class=html>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>A frame document with CSS</title>
<style type="text/css" media="screen">
body { height: 8.5in } /* Required for percentage heights below */
#header {
position: fixed;
width: 100%;
height: 15%;
top: 0;
right: 0;
bottom: auto;
left: 0;
}
#sidebar {
position: fixed;
width: 10em;
height: auto;
top: 15%;
right: auto;
bottom: 100px;
left: 0;
}
#main {
position: fixed;
width: auto;
height: auto;
top: 15%;
right: 0;
bottom: 100px;
left: 10em;
}
#footer {
position: fixed;
width: 100%;
height: 100px;
top: auto;
right: 0;
bottom: 0;
left: 0;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div id="header"> ... </div>
<div id="sidebar"> ... </div>
<div id="main"> ... </div>
<div id="footer"> ... </div>
</body>
</html>
</code></pre>
</div>
<h3 class="heading settled" data-level=6.7 id=position-property><span class=secno>6.7. </span><span class=content>
Choosing a positioning scheme: <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a> property</span><a class=self-link href=#position-property></a></h3>
<p>The <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a> property determines which of the positioning algorithms is used to
calculate the position of a box.</p>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-position>position<a class=self-link href=#propdef-position></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod>static <a data-link-for="" data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> relative <a data-link-for="" data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> absolute <a data-link-for="" data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> sticky <a data-link-for="" data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> center <a data-link-for="" data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> page <a data-link-for="" data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> fixed<tr><th>Initial:<td>static<tr><th>Applies to:<td>all elements except table-column-group and table-column<tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>specified value<tr><th>Animatable:<td>no<tr><th>Canonical order:<td><abbr title="follows order of property value definition">per grammar</abbr></table>
<p>The values of this property have the following meanings:</p>
<dl data-dfn-for=position data-dfn-type=value>
<dt><dfn class=css data-dfn-for=position data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholderstatic-fake-maybe-placeholder title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>static</fake-maybe-placeholder>">static<a class=self-link href=#valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholderstatic-fake-maybe-placeholder></a></dfn></dt>
<dd>
The box is a normal box, laid out according to the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a>. The
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a>, and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> properties do not apply.
<dt><dfn class=css data-dfn-for=position data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholderrelative-fake-maybe-placeholder title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>relative</fake-maybe-placeholder>">relative<a class=self-link href=#valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholderrelative-fake-maybe-placeholder></a></dfn></dt>
<dd>
The box's position is calculated according to the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a> (this
is called the position in <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a>). Then the box is offset relative
to its normal position and in all cases, including table elements, does not affect
the position of any following boxes. When a box B is relatively positioned, the
position of the following box is calculated as though B were not offset. The effect
of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a>: <span class=css>relative</span> on table elements is defined as follows:
<ul>
<li>
table-row-group, table-header-group, table-footer-group and table-row offset
relative to its normal position within the table. If table-cells span
multiple rows, only the cells originating in the <span title="relative positioning">relative positioned</span> row is
offset.
<li>
table-column-group, table-column do not offset the respective column and has
no visual affect when <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a>: <span class=css>relative</span> is applied.
<li>
table-caption and table-cell offset relative to its normal position within
the table. If a table cell spans multiple columns or rows the full spanned
cell is offset.
</ul>
<dt><dfn class=css data-dfn-for=position data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholderabsolute-fake-maybe-placeholder title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>absolute</fake-maybe-placeholder>">absolute<a class=self-link href=#valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholderabsolute-fake-maybe-placeholder></a></dfn></dt>
<dd>
The box's position (and possibly size) is specified with the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a>,
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a>, and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> properties. These properties specify offsets with respect
to the box's <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a>. Absolutely positioned boxes
are taken out of the normal flow. This means they have no impact on the layout
of later siblings. Though absolutely positioned boxes may have margins, those
margins do not <a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/box.html#collapsing-margins>
collapse</a> with any other margins.
<dt><dfn class=css data-dfn-for=position data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholdersticky-fake-maybe-placeholder title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>sticky</fake-maybe-placeholder>">sticky<a class=self-link href=#valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholdersticky-fake-maybe-placeholder></a></dfn></dt>
<dd>
The box's position is calculated according to the <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a>
(this is called the position in <a data-link-type=dfn href=#normal-flow title="normal flow">normal flow</a>). Then the box is offset
relative to its flow root and containing block and in all cases, including
table elements, does not affect the position of any following boxes. When a
box B is stickily positioned, the position of the following box is calculated
as though B were not offset. The effect of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a>: <span class=css>sticky</span> on table
elements is the same as for <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-position title=position>position</a>: <span class=css>relative</span>
<dt><dfn class=css data-dfn-for=position data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholdercenter-fake-maybe-placeholder title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>center</fake-maybe-placeholder>">center<a class=self-link href=#valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholdercenter-fake-maybe-placeholder></a></dfn></dt>
<dd>
The box's position (and possibly size) is specified with the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-top title=top>top</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-right title=right>right</a>,
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-bottom title=bottom>bottom</a>, and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-left title=left>left</a> properties. The box is vertically and horizontally centered
within its <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a> and these properties specify offsets with
respect to the box's centered position within its <a data-link-type=dfn href=#containing-block title="containing block">containing block</a>.
Center positioned boxes are taken out of the normal flow. This means they have
no impact on the layout of later siblings. Though center positioned boxes may
have margins, those margins do not <a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/box.html#collapsing-margins>collapse</a>
with any other margins.
<dt><dfn class=css data-dfn-for=position data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholderpage-fake-maybe-placeholder title="'position'!!<fake-maybe-placeholder>page</fake-maybe-placeholder>">page<a class=self-link href=#valdef-position-positionfake-maybe-placeholderpage-fake-maybe-placeholder></a></dfn></dt>
<dd>
The box's position is calculated according to the "absolute" model.