The CSS Box Model
All HTML elements can be considered as boxes. In CSS, the term "box model" is used when
talking about design and layout.
The CSS box model is essentially a box that wraps around every HTML element. It consists
of: margins, borders, padding, and the actual content. The image below illustrates the box
model:
Explanation of the different parts:
Content - The content of the box, where text and images appear
Padding - Clears an area around the content. The padding is transparent
Border - A border that goes around the padding and content
Margin - Clears an area outside the border. The margin is transparent
The box model allows us to add a border around elements, and to define space between
elements.
The position Property
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.
position: static;
HTML elements are positioned static by default.
Static positioned elements are not affected by the top, bottom, left, and right properties.
An element with position: static; is not positioned in any special way; it is always positioned
according to the normal flow of the page:
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.
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.
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.
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).
Overlapping Elements
When elements are positioned, they can overlap other elements.
The z-index property specifies the stack order of an element (which element should be
placed in front of, or behind, the others).
An element can have a positive or negative stack order:
The float Property
The float property is used for positioning and formatting content e.g. let an image float left
to the text in a container.
The float property can have one of the following values:
left - The element floats to the left of its container
right - The element floats to the right of its container
none - The element does not float (will be displayed just where it occurs in the text).
This is default
inherit - The element inherits the float value of its parent
In its simplest use, the float property can be used to wrap text around images.
Example - float: right;
The following example specifies that an image should float to the right in a text:
Example - No float
In the following example the image will be displayed just where it occurs in the text (float:
none;):
