Z-Index Relative or Absolute?

Question

I\'m trying to find an answer to the following question:

Is an element\'s z-index style its absolute stack order, or its stack order relative to its parent?

Answer 1

Afaik, z-index doesn't work unless that element is set to position: relative; If that same element had a child with position: relative; and the z-index was set higher, the child would show on top of its parent.

So it has elements of both 'absolute' and 'relative' stack order as you phrased it.

All browsers pretty much handle it the same, I think.