# CSS Positioning

The `position` property specifies the type of positioning method used for an element. There are five different position values:

*   `static`
*   `relative`
*   `fixed`
*   `absolute`
*   `sticky`

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

## 1. `position: static;`

HTML elements are positioned static by default. Static positioned elements are not affected by the `top`, `bottom`, `left`, and `right` properties. They are always positioned according to the normal flow of the page.

```css
div.static {
  position: static;
  border: 3px solid #73AD21;
}
```

## 2. `position: relative;`

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

```css
div.relative {
  position: relative;
  left: 30px;
  border: 3px solid #73AD21;
}
```

## 3. `position: absolute;`

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

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

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

```css
div.relative {
  position: relative;
  width: 400px;
  height: 200px;
  border: 3px solid #73AD21;
}

div.absolute {
  position: absolute;
  top: 80px;
  right: 0;
  width: 200px;
  height: 100px;
  border: 3px solid #73AD21;
}
```

## 4. `position: fixed;`

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

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

```css
div.fixed {
  position: fixed;
  bottom: 0;
  right: 0;
  width: 300px;
  border: 3px solid #73AD21;
}
```

## 5. `position: sticky;`

An element with `position: sticky;` is positioned based on the user's scroll position.

A sticky element toggles between `relative` and `fixed`, depending on the scroll position. It is positioned relative until a given offset position is met in the viewport - then it "sticks" in place (like `position: fixed`).

**Note:** You must specify at least one of `top`, `right`, `bottom` or `left` for sticky positioning to work.

```css
div.sticky {
  position: sticky;
  top: 0;
  background-color: green;
  border: 2px solid #4CAF50;
}
```

[[programming/css/css]]
[[programming/css/box-model]]
[[programming/css/z-index-and-stacking-context]]