Is it possible to make a positioned element relative to another element which isn't currently its parent? Example:

<div class="want-to-be-parent">
<div class="current-parent">
<div class="element-to-position"><!---content---></div>
</div>
</div>

So in this instance, I want to absolutely position 'element-to-position' at the top left of 'want-to-be-parent' but its currently relatively positioned inside 'current-parent'.

EDIT - Assume that all three of these elements have 'position: relative' and that I have no control over that. I want to absolutely position 'element-to-position' and have it be absolutely positioned relative to 'want-to-be-parent' and not to 'current-parent'. I have to do this dynamically as there is no other way.

Is it possible to make a positioned element relative to another element which isn't currently its parent? Example:

<div class="want-to-be-parent">
<div class="current-parent">
<div class="element-to-position"><!---content---></div>
</div>
</div>

So in this instance, I want to absolutely position 'element-to-position' at the top left of 'want-to-be-parent' but its currently relatively positioned inside 'current-parent'.

EDIT - Assume that all three of these elements have 'position: relative' and that I have no control over that. I want to absolutely position 'element-to-position' and have it be absolutely positioned relative to 'want-to-be-parent' and not to 'current-parent'. I have to do this dynamically as there is no other way.

• javascript
• html
• jquery
• css
• css-position

• See this past question, related: stackoverflow./questions/33065135/… – DRosenfeld Commented May 2, 2021 at 6:48

1 Answer 1

Set want-to-be-parent to position:relative; and set current-parent to position:static;

When you use position:absolute on an element it will position relative to the first parent with non-static position, preferably relative position to avoid messing the layout.

Your code should look something like this:

.want-to-be-parent {
  position:relative;
  padding:40px;
  border:1px solid;
  
}

.current-parent{
  padding:40px;
  border:1px solid;
}

.element-to-position {
  position:absolute;
  top:0;
  left:0;
  padding:10px;
  background:red;
}

<div class="want-to-be-parent">
want to be parent
  <div class="current-parent">
  curent parent
    <div class="element-to-position">
      element
    </div>
  </div>
</div>