Learn CSS for Beginners #8: CSS Positioning All Explained - Fixed, Relative, Static, and Absolute

Struggling with weird layouts or elements overlapping where they shouldn’t? You’re probably bumping into one of the trickiest parts of CSS for beginners: positioning.

In this guide, I break down the 4 main position values in CSS:

✅ static– the default, normal flow
✅ relative– shift an element slightly without affecting others
✅ absolute– position exactly where you want inside a parent
✅ fixed– stick to the screen even when scrolling

Why CSS Positioning Confuses Many Beginners
The position property changes how an element behaves in the document flow. It affects stacking, layout, and responsiveness.

Once you understand how positioning works, you’ll unlock the ability to create:

• Sticky navbars
• Custom tooltips
• Floating buttons
• Fixed Banners

Quick Example:

.box {
  position: absolute;
  top: 50px;
  left: 100px;
}

This code places .box exactly 50px from the top and 100px from the left of its positioned ancestor.

👉 In the full guide, I explain when and why to use each type — with code snippets and real layout examples:
How Margin, Padding, and Border Work in CSS with Examples