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What does CSS position property do?

The position property in CSS specifies how an element is positioned within a document. It determines the type of positioning method used for an element (static, relative, absolute, fixed, or sticky). Each value of the position property provides different rules on how the element is placed in the document flow. Here’s a breakdown of its key values:

1. static (default)

  • The element is positioned according to the normal document flow.
  • Top, right, bottom, and left properties have no effect.
.element {
position: static;
}

2. relative

  • The element is positioned relative to its normal position in the document flow.
  • You can use top, right, bottom, or left to adjust its position from where it would normally be.
.element {
position: relative;
top: 10px; /* Moves down 10px from its normal position */
}

3. absolute

  • The element is removed from the normal document flow and positioned relative to its nearest positioned ancestor (if none, the element is positioned relative to the initial containing block, usually <html>).
.element {
position: absolute;
top: 50px; /* 50px from the top of the nearest positioned ancestor */
}

4. fixed

  • The element is removed from the normal document flow and positioned relative to the viewport, meaning it stays in the same place when the page is scrolled.
.element {
position: fixed;
top: 0; /* Stays fixed at the top of the page even on scroll */
}

5. sticky

  • The element is treated as relative until it reaches a specific scroll position, at which point it becomes fixed within its containing block.
.element {
position: sticky;
top: 20px; /* Sticks to the top of the page when scrolled 20px */
}

Each position value allows for different behaviors, giving developers flexibility in how they want their elements to appear in relation to the overall document structure and the viewport.