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left

Summary

Sets the left edge of an element

Overview table

Initial value
auto
Applies to
All elements
Inherited
No
Media
visual
Computed value
If specified as a length, the corresponding absolute length; if specified as a percentage, the specified value; otherwise, 'auto’.
Animatable
Yes
CSS Object Model Property
left

Syntax

  • left: auto
  • left: length
  • left: percentage

Values

auto
Default. Default position, according to the regular HTML layout of the page.
length
Floating-point number, followed by an absolute units designator (cm, mm, in, pt, or pc) or a relative units designator (em, ex, or px). For more information about the supported length units, see CSS Values and Units Reference.
percentage
Integer, followed by a percent sign (%). The value is a percentage of the width of the parent object.

Examples

We demonstrate the `left` property by positioning the elements.

.container {
  /**
   * Object is positioned according to the normal flow, and then offset.
   */
  position: relative;
}

.absolutely-positioned-within-container {
  /**
   * Object is positioned relative to nearest positioned ancestor—or
   * to the initial containing block if no positioned ancestor exists.
   * Here, the nearest positioned ancestor is the `div.container`.
   */
  position: absolute;
  /**
   * Offsets this element 25px towards the left from the container's left edge.
   * Note: `length` can also be specified in other units of measurements.
   */
  left: 25px;
}

.absolutely-positioned-within-body {
  /**
   * Here, the nearest positioned anscestor does not exist, hence
   * the coordinate system reference becomes the initial containing block,
   * i.e. the `body`.
   */
  position: absolute;
  /**
   * Offsets this element 350px towards the left of the initial containing
   * block's left edge i.e. the `body`'s left edge.
   */
  left: 350px;
}

.relatively-positioned {
  /**
   * Object is positioned according to the normal flow, and then offset.
   */
  position: relative;
  /**
   * The layout for this element happens according to the normal flow.
   * But because this element is positioned relatively, it will be
   * offset 300px towards the left from where it would have been in
   * the normal flow.
   */
  left: 300px;
}

View live example

The HTML for the above example.



<article>
  <div class="container">
    <p class="box absolutely-positioned-within-container">Absolutely positioned within <code>div.container</code> at 25px from the left.</p>
    <p class="box relatively-positioned">This is relatively positioned at 300px from the left.</p>
  </div>

  <p class="box absolutely-positioned-within-body">This is absolutely positioned within the <code>body</code> at 350px from the left.</p>
</article>

See also

Related articles

Box Model

Related pages

Attributions