In CSS, z-index is a property that controls the stacking order of HTML elements on a page. When elements overlap, the z-index determines which one appears on top. Elements with a higher z-index sit in front of elements with a lower z-index. It’s one of those CSS concepts that trips up a lot of beginners when building WordPress pages.
How Z-Index Works
Think of your webpage as a stack of transparent layers. Each positioned element sits on a layer. Z-index sets which layer an element is on. A z-index of 10 appears above a z-index of 5. Z-index only works on elements that have a position value of relative, absolute, fixed, or sticky.
Common Z-Index Problems in WordPress
- Navigation menus disappearing behind content sections
- Sticky headers getting covered by other elements when scrolling
- Popups or modals appearing behind the rest of the page
- Page builder elements overlapping each other unexpectedly
How to Fix Z-Index Issues
Use browser developer tools (F12) to inspect the stacking context. Add a higher z-index to the element that should appear on top. Most page builders like Elementor let you set z-index values in the element’s advanced settings without touching any code.
Related: HTML
Related: Visual Builder
