CSS top

The CSS top property specifies how far a box's top margin edge is offset from the top edge of the box's containing block.

The property allows you to specify how far the element is offset from the top edge of its containing block (for absolute positioning), or from where the positioned element's top edge would normally have been (for relative positioning). If it's a stickily positioned box, the top property's value is used to compute the sticky-constraint rectangle.

The top property is used in conjunction with the position property when its value is anything other than static.

Also see the bottom, left, and right properties.

Syntax

These values are explained below.

Possible Values

auto

Specifies the following:

• for absolutely positioned elements, the position of the element is based on the bottom property, and height: auto will be treated as a height based on the content.
• for relatively positioned elements, the offset the element from its original position is based on the bottom property, or if the value of bottom is also auto, no offset occurs at all.

percentage

Specifies the offset as a percentage. The offset is a percentage of the containing block's height. For stickily positioned elements, the offset is a percentage of the flow root's height. Negative values are allowed.

length

Specifies the offset as a length. The offset is a fixed distance from the reference edge. Negative values are allowed.

In addition, all CSS properties also accept the following CSS-wide keyword values as the sole component of their property value:

initial

Represents the value specified as the property's initial value.

inherit

Represents the computed value of the property on the element's parent.

unset

This value acts as either inherit or initial, depending on whether the property is inherited or not. In other words, it sets all properties to their parent value if they are inheritable or to their initial value if not inheritable.

General Information

Example Code

Official Specifications

• CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3 (W3C Editor's Draft)
• CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 3 (W3C Working Draft)
• CSS Level 2.1 (W3C Recommendation 07 June 2011)

Browser Support

Browser support for CSS properties can vary, particularly for newer or experimental features. Check current browser compatibility before using a property in production, especially when supporting older browsers.

Initial Value

CSS properties have an initial value that applies when the property has not been explicitly set. The initial value is different from the value inherited from a parent element and may vary between properties.

Inheritance

Some CSS properties inherit their computed value from their parent element by default, while others do not. The inherit, initial, unset, and revert keywords can also be used to control how a property gets its value.

Vendor Prefixes

Most modern CSS properties use the standard, unprefixed syntax. Vendor-prefixed properties such as -webkit- are mainly relevant to older browser versions or specific features and should only be used when required by your browser support targets.