Understanding z-index in Tailwind CSS

What is z-index?

• z-index is a CSS property that determines the stacking order of elements on a web page.
• Elements with a higher z-index value are stacked on top of those with a lower value.

Why Use z-index?

• It is essential for controlling the visibility of overlapping elements.
• Helps manage layouts where elements need to be layered, such as modals, dropdowns, and tooltips.

Tailwind CSS and z-index

• Tailwind CSS provides utility classes for managing z-index values without writing custom CSS.
• The classes are predefined, making it easy to apply the desired stacking order directly in your HTML.

Key Tailwind CSS z-index Classes

• z-0: Sets z-index to 0.
• z-10: Sets z-index to 10.
• z-20: Sets z-index to 20.
• z-30: Sets z-index to 30.
• z-auto: Resets z-index to auto, allowing the browser to determine stacking order.

Example Usage

<div class="relative z-10">
  This element has a z-index of 10.
</div>
<div class="relative z-20">
  This element has a z-index of 20 and will appear above the previous one.
</div>

Important Notes

• Positioning: For z-index to work, the element must have a position value other than static (relative, absolute, or fixed).
• Context: z-index only affects elements that are within the same stacking context. New stacking contexts can be created by certain CSS properties.

Conclusion

• Using Tailwind CSS's z-index utility classes simplifies the process of managing element stacking order, making it beginner-friendly and efficient for web development.