CSS GUIDE BACKGROUND POSITION

This document is a work in progress and is subject to change.

Summary

Use the background-position property to specify where a background image is placed. If the image repeats (horizontally, vertically or both) then it repeats from this location. If there is a single image, it is placed using the background-position property.

• Initial value: 0% 0%
• Applies to: all elements
• Inherited: no
• Percentages: refer to the size of the box itself
• Media Group: Visual
• Computed value: for <length> the absolute value, otherwise a percentage

Syntax

 background-position: [left | right] [N% | Npx] [N% | Npx] [top | bottom]; 

Legal Values

<percentage> <percentage>

With a value pair of '0% 0%', the upper left corner of the image is aligned with the upper left corner of the box's padding edge. A value pair of '100% 100%' places the lower right corner of the image in the lower right corner of padding area. With a value pair of '14% 84%', the point 14% across and 84% down the image is to be placed at the point 14% across and 84% down the padding area.

<length> <length>

With a value pair of '2cm 1cm', the upper left corner of the image is placed 2cm to the right and 1cm below the upper left corner of the padding area.

top left and left top

Same as '0% 0%'.

top, top center, and center top

Same as '50% 0%'.

right top and top right

Same as '100% 0%'.

left, left center, and center left

Same as '0% 50%'.

center and center center

Same as '50% 50%'.

right, right center, and center right

Same as '100% 50%'.

bottom left and left bottom

Same as '0% 100%'.

bottom, bottom center, and center bottom

Same as '50% 100%'.

bottom right and right bottom

Same as '100% 100%'.

If only one value is specified, then it sets the horizontal position, with the vertical position at 50%. Otherwise, the first value specifies the horizontal position. Combinations are allowed of keyword, length, or percentage values, but if keywords are mixed with other values, 'left' and 'right' may only be used as the first value, and 'top' and 'bottom' may only be used as the second value. Negative positions are allowed.

Usage Examples

background-position: bottom right;

background-position: top right;

background-position: 20px 50px;

background-position: 50% 20%;

background-position: right 50%;

background-position: 20% 50px;

background-position: right 20px;

Specification Conformance

• CSS 1
• CSS 2.1
• CSS 3

Browser Compatibility

Browser	Lowest Version
Internet Explorer	4
Firefox	1
Netscape	6
Opera	3.5