z-index

The z-index property specifies the z-order of a positioned element and its descendants. When elements overlap, z-order determines which one covers the other. An element with a larger z-index generally covers an element with a lower one.

For a positioned box (that is, one with any position other than static), the z-index property specifies:

1. The stack level of the box in the current stacking context.
2. Whether the box establishes a local stacking context.

Initial value	auto
Applies to	positioned elements
Inherited	no
Media	visual
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	an integer
Canonical order	the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar
Creates stacking context	yes

Syntax

/* Keyword value */
z-index: auto;

/* <integer> values */
z-index: 0;
z-index: 3;
z-index: 289;
z-index: -1; /* Negative values to lower the priority */

/* Global values */
z-index: inherit;
z-index: initial;
z-index: unset;

Values

auto

The box does not establish a new local stacking context. The stack level of the generated box in the current stacking context is the same as its parent's box.

<integer>

This integer is the stack level of the generated box in the current stacking context. The box also establishes a local stacking context in which its stack level is 0. This means that the z-indexes of descendants are not compared to the z-indexes of elements outside this element.

Formal syntax

auto | <integer>

Examples

HTML

<div class="dashed-box">Dashed box
  <span class="gold-box">Gold box</span>
  <span class="green-box">Green box</span>
</div>

CSS

.dashed-box { 
  position: relative;
  z-index: 1;
  border: dashed;
  height: 8em;
  margin-bottom: 1em;
  margin-top: 2em;
}
.gold-box { 
  position: absolute;
  z-index: 3; /* put .gold-box above .green-box and .dashed-box */
  background: gold;
  width: 80%;
  left: 60px;
  top: 3em;
}
.green-box { 
  position: absolute;
  z-index: 2; /* put .green-box above .dashed-box */
  background: lightgreen;
  width: 20%;
  left: 65%;
  top: -25px;
  height: 7em;
  opacity: 0.9;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Transitions The definition of 'animation behavior for z-index' in that specification.	Working Draft	Defines z-index as animatable.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of 'z-index' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition

Browser compatibility

See also

• CSS position property
• Understanding CSS z-indexes