Contrasting the utilization of percentage width in relative vs fixed contexts

Question

Contrasting the utilization of percentage width in relative vs fixed contexts

I am facing an issue with the sizing of two div elements on my page, one with relative positioning and the other with fixed positioning.

<div class="outer1">
</div>
<div class="outer2">
</div>

Here is the CSS:

.outer1{
    width:50%;
    height:500px;
    background:red;
    position:relative;
}

.outer2{
    width:50%;
    background:blue;
    height:200px;
    position:fixed;
}

Even though I have set the width of both div elements to 50%, there seems to be a difference in their actual widths. Can someone please explain why this is happening?

html css

Answer 1

Answer №1

The .outer1 division is occupying 50% of its parent container, which in this case is the body. On the other hand, the .outer2 division is set to a fixed position, causing it to be taken out of the normal document flow and positioned relative to the viewport instead.

Because every browser has default 'user agent' stylesheets that include predefined margins and paddings for elements, the width of your document may not perfectly match the viewport width, resulting in slight differences in widths between elements.

To achieve consistent styling, you can reset the default browser styles by adding the following CSS:

html, body {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

Answer 2

The .outer1 division is occupying 50% of its parent container, which in this case is the body. On the other hand, the .outer2 division is set to a fixed position, causing it to be taken out of the normal document flow and positioned relative to the viewport instead.

Because every browser has default 'user agent' stylesheets that include predefined margins and paddings for elements, the width of your document may not perfectly match the viewport width, resulting in slight differences in widths between elements.

To achieve consistent styling, you can reset the default browser styles by adding the following CSS:

html, body {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

Answer 3

Answer №2

Utilizing Position:fixed causes the div to encompass the entire container (such as the body) as a reference point.

An element with a fixed position is placed in relation to the viewport, or the browser window itself.

In this scenario, the width of the screen is taken into account, including the default margin of the body.

When setting an element as Relative to any Element, it means being "relative to itself". The element does not adhere to external rules.

This explains why the .outer div appears longer than expected, as it is not conforming to the body tag's rules.

If you use margin:0, you will observe that both effects are identical.

JSFIDDLE

Answer 4

Utilizing Position:fixed causes the div to encompass the entire container (such as the body) as a reference point.

An element with a fixed position is placed in relation to the viewport, or the browser window itself.

In this scenario, the width of the screen is taken into account, including the default margin of the body.

When setting an element as Relative to any Element, it means being "relative to itself". The element does not adhere to external rules.

This explains why the .outer div appears longer than expected, as it is not conforming to the body tag's rules.

If you use margin:0, you will observe that both effects are identical.

JSFIDDLE

Answer 5

Answer №3

Implement CSS in the following manner


body{
    margin:0;
    padding:0;
}  

.outer1{
    width:50%;
    height:500px;
    background:red;
    position:relative;
    float:left;
}

.outer2{
    width:50%;
    height:200px;
    background:blue;
    position:fixed;
}

Answer 6

Implement CSS in the following manner


body{
    margin:0;
    padding:0;
}  

.outer1{
    width:50%;
    height:500px;
    background:red;
    position:relative;
    float:left;
}

.outer2{
    width:50%;
    height:200px;
    background:blue;
    position:fixed;
}

Answer 7

Answer №4

Understanding CSS Reset

Utilizing a css reset: You can either use the CSS reset provided by Meyerweb or specify your own html, body margin:0; padding:0;

Live Example

html, body
    {
     margin:0;
      padding:0;
    }
    .container1{
        width:50%;
        height:500px;
        background:red;
        position:relative;
        float:left;
        }

        .container2{
        width:50%;
        background:blue;
        height:200px;
        position:fixed;

        }

<div class="container1"></div>
<div class="container2"></div>

Answer 8

Understanding CSS Reset

Utilizing a css reset: You can either use the CSS reset provided by Meyerweb or specify your own html, body margin:0; padding:0;

Live Example

html, body
    {
     margin:0;
      padding:0;
    }
    .container1{
        width:50%;
        height:500px;
        background:red;
        position:relative;
        float:left;
        }

        .container2{
        width:50%;
        background:blue;
        height:200px;
        position:fixed;

        }

<div class="container1"></div>
<div class="container2"></div>

Answer 9

Answer №5

According to the feedback given, this issue can be fixed by utilizing a CSS reset or normalize, or simply by resetting the body properties manually.

body {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}

The issue occurred because most browsers have default margin settings.

It's important to note that position: fixed is outside of the document flow and thus not influenced by the margin of the body element.

Therefore, when you observed it, what you were seeing was actually correct. The element with position: fixed occupied 50% of the entire viewport, while the element with position: relative took up 50% of the body element minus its margin (resulting in it being narrower).

Answer 10

According to the feedback given, this issue can be fixed by utilizing a CSS reset or normalize, or simply by resetting the body properties manually.

body {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}

The issue occurred because most browsers have default margin settings.

It's important to note that position: fixed is outside of the document flow and thus not influenced by the margin of the body element.

Therefore, when you observed it, what you were seeing was actually correct. The element with position: fixed occupied 50% of the entire viewport, while the element with position: relative took up 50% of the body element minus its margin (resulting in it being narrower).

Answer 11

Answer №6

Check out this example:

    body
    {
     margin:0; 
      padding:0;
    } 
    .container1{
        width:50%;
        height:500px;
        background:red;
        position:relative;
        float:left;
        }

        .container2{
        width:50%;
        background:blue;
        height:200px;
        position:fixed;

        }

SEE DEMO HERE

Answer 12

Check out this example:

    body
    {
     margin:0; 
      padding:0;
    } 
    .container1{
        width:50%;
        height:500px;
        background:red;
        position:relative;
        float:left;
        }

        .container2{
        width:50%;
        background:blue;
        height:200px;
        position:fixed;

        }

SEE DEMO HERE

Contrasting the utilization of percentage width in relative vs fixed contexts

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

Answer №6

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