absolute position affects width?

Question

I am new to css. I am wondering why when I change the positioning of the div element to absolute, the width of the div element changes? Tried it out in Chrome v25.0.1364.17

Answer 1

Because absolutely positioned elements do not behave as block level elements and do not flow after each other like normal a

does.

You will need to set a width and a height for a div that is absolutely positioned, depending what it contains.

Your absolutely positioned element will position relative to the first parent element it is in. So, a simple example:

A simple 'gotcha' is not setting the parent element to have position: relative;

    
    

         I'm positioned absolutely to my parent.