Getting to Know Default Positioning in CSS: An Introduction
Tags: css, beginners, webdev, tutorial
Published: 2023-03-21 13:00:00

## Introduction

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a popular language used in web development that allows designers to control the visual appearance of a website. One of the features of CSS is its default position, which determines how an element should be positioned on a webpage if no other positioning attributes have been set. In this article, we will explore the concept of default position in CSS and how it compares to alternative positioning methods.

## Definition of CSS and Default Position
CSS is a style sheet language that describes the presentation of an HTML document. It is used to define styles for web pages, including layout, colors, fonts, and animations. The default position property in CSS specifies how an element is positioned on a webpage relative to its parent container when no other positioning attributes are specified.

## What is the default normal CSS positioning?
The default position value for most HTML elements is static. This means that the element will appear in its natural order on the page and cannot be moved or repositioned with CSS properties such as top or left.

## Alternative Positioning Methods in CSS
There are four alternative positioning methods available within CSS: relative, absolute, fixed, and sticky.

### Relative
Relative positioning moves an element relative to where it would normally be placed on the page without affecting other elements’ positions. 

### Absolute
Absolute positioning removes an element from its normal flow and positions it based on its nearest positioned ancestor. 

### Fixed
Fixed positioning keeps an element fixed at a specific location regardless of scrolling movements made by the user. 

### Sticky
Finally, sticky positioning acts as both relative and fixed elements depending on where they are positioned within their parent container.

These alternative methods make it possible to create more complex layouts than what can be achieved with just static positioning but require more expertise and attention to detail when using them compared to relying solely on default position property.

## Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Default Position

One advantage of using default position is that it provides consistency across different screen sizes and devices since elements will be placed in their natural order regardless of size or orientation changes.

Another advantage is that using only default position reduces complexity and requires less coding knowledge than working with alternative positioning methods such as absolute or fixed positions.

However, there are some disadvantages associated with using only default position for laying out web pages. One disadvantage is that it can result in less control over specific design aspects like spacing between elements or overlapping content due to limitations imposed by static placement rules.

Additionally, if you want to move an element around your page precisely, then you need either use one of four alternative methods mentioned earlier or create additional containers (e.g., divs) expressly designed for holding content with specific placement requirements — which increases code complexity significantly .

## Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding how default position works within CSS helps designers create consistent layouts while reducing coding complexity compared to working with alternative placement options like those provided by relative or absolute values.

It’s important for developers who want more control over design aspects like spacing between elements or overlapping content not exclusively rely upon using just static placements but rather utilise more advanced techniques such as those provided by relative/absolute/fixed/sticky values where necessary; doing so will give them better results when trying accurately place objects around their webpages without sacrificing simplicity when unnecessary either!

### Further reading

Want to learn more about CSS positioning? Then check out - [Positioning - Learn web development | MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Positioning)

### See also

[What is CSS? Basics Explained - Max Lockwood](https://maxlockwood.dev/what-is-css/)
 [What is the CSS Display Property?](https://maxlockwood.dev/what-is-the-css-display-property/) 
 [What are the Most Common CSS Units?](https://maxlockwood.dev/what-are-the-most-common-css-units/) 

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