Google Chrome not respecting z-index Google Chrome not respecting z-index google-chrome google-chrome

Google Chrome not respecting z-index


Usually when you have set the z-index property, but things aren't working as you might expect, it is related to the position attribute.

In order for z-index to work properly, the element needs to be "positioned". This means that it must have the position attribute set to one of absolute, relative, or fixed.

Note that your element will also be positioned relative to the first ancestor that is positioned if you use position: absolute and top, left, right, bottom, etc.


Without a link to look at, it's a bit tough to see what the problem might be.

Do you have a z-index: -1; anywhere (a negative number is the key here, doesn't matter the number)?I have found in the past this renders the container void from being interacted with.

Good luck!


Markt's answer (see first answer) is great and this is the "by definition" of the z-index property.
Chrome's specific issue are usually related to the overflow property from the top container bottom.So, for the following:

<div class="first-container">...</div><div class="second-container">    <div ...>         <div class="fixed-div> some text</div>    <... /div></div>

And styles:

.first-container {    position:relative;    z-index: 100;    width: 100%;    height: 10%;}.second-container {    position:relative;    z-index: 1000;    width: 100%;    height: 90%;    overflow: auto;}.fixed-div {    position: fixed;    z-index: 10000;    height: 110%;}

the following actually happens (Chrome only, firefox works as expected)
The 'fixed-div' is behind the 'first-container', even though both 'fixed-div' and its container's ('second-container') z-index value is greater than 'first-container'.

The reason for this is Chrome always enforce boundaries within a container that enforces overflow even though one of its successors might have a fixed position.
I guess you can find a twisted logic for that... I can't - since the only reason for using fixed position is to enable 'on-top-of-everything' behavior.
So bug it is...