CSS Positioning Demystified: A Beginner's Guide to All 5 Values

CSS positioning is a commonly misunderstood concept, but it revolves around just five core values. The default value, static, places elements in the normal document flow, while relative allows movement from the element's original position. Absolute positioning anchors an element relative to its nearest positioned parent, making it useful for badges and icons. Fixed elements remain locked in place on the screen regardless of scrolling, ideal for persistent navigation bars. Sticky combines relative and fixed behavior, keeping an element in flow until a scroll threshold is reached, which suits table headers and section titles.