CSS I want a div to be on top of everything

How do I make an html div tag to be on top of everything?

In order for z-index to work, you'll need to give the element a position:absolute or a position:relative property. Once you do that, your links will function properly, though you may have to tweak your CSS a bit afterwards.

Yes, in order for the z-index to work, you'll need to give the element a position: absolute or a position: relative property... fine.

But... pay attention to parents!

The element's z-index may be limited by its parent's z-index value.

You have to go up the nodes of the elements to check if at the level of the common parent the first descendants have a defined z-index.

All other descendants can never be in the foreground if at the base there is a lower definite z-index.

In this snippet example, div1-2-1 has a z-index of 1000 but is nevertheless under the div1-1-1 which has a z-index of 3.

This is because div1-1 has a z-index greater than div1-2.

.div {
  
}

#div1 {
  z-index: 1;
  position: absolute;
  width: 500px;
  height: 300px;
  border: 1px solid black;
}

#div1-1 {
  z-index: 2;
  position: absolute;
  left: 230px;
  width: 200px;
  height: 200px;
  top: 31px;
  background-color: indianred;
}

#div1-1-1 {
  z-index: 3;
  position: absolute;
  top: 50px;
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  background-color: burlywood;
}

#div1-2 {
  z-index: 1;
  position: absolute;
  width: 200px;
  height: 200px;
  left: 80px;
  top: 5px;
  background-color: red;
}

#div1-2-1 {
  z-index: 1000;
  position: absolute;
  left: 70px;
  width: 120px;
  height: 100px;
  top: 10px;
  color: red;
  background-color: lightyellow;
}

.blink {
  animation: blinker 1s linear infinite;
}

@keyframes blinker {
  50% {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

.rotate {
  writing-mode: vertical-rl;
  padding-left: 50px;
  font-weight: bold;
  font-size: 20px;
}

<div class="div" id="div1">div1</br>z-index: 1
  <div class="div" id="div1-1">div1-1</br>z-index: 2
    <div class="div" id="div1-1-1">div1-1-1</br>z-index: 3</div>
  </div>
  
  <div class="div" id="div1-2">div1-2</br>z-index: 1</br><span class='rotate blink'><=</span>
    <div class="div" id="div1-2-1"><span class='blink'>z-index: 1000!!</span></br>div1-2-1</br><span class='blink'> because =></br>(same</br>   parent)</span></div>
  </div>
</div>

For z-index:1000 to have an effect you need a non-static positioning scheme.

Add position:relative; to a rule selecting the element you want to be on top

You need to add position:relative; to the menu. Z-index only works when you have a non static positioning scheme.

z-index property enables you to take your control at front. the bigger number you set the upper your element you get.

position property should be relative because position of html-element should be position relatively against other controls in all dimensions.

element.style {
   position:relative;
   z-index:1000; //change your number as per elements lies on your page.
}

I gonna assumed you making a popup with code from WW3 school, correct? check it css. the .modal one, there're already word z-index there. just change from 1 to 100.

.modal {
    display: none; /* Hidden by default */
    position: fixed; /* Stay in place */
    z-index: 1; /* Sit on top */
    padding-top: 100px; /* Location of the box */
    left: 0;
    top: 0;
    width: 100%; /* Full width */
    height: 100%; /* Full height */
    overflow: auto; /* Enable scroll if needed */
    background-color: rgb(0,0,0); /* Fallback color */
    background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.4); /* Black w/ opacity */
}

It seems like nesting an element inside a <dialog> element puts it on top of everything. It is placed both horizontally and vertically centered to the screen if you use showModal() but you lose the interactivity with other elements in the page.

document.querySelector("dialog").showModal();

<dialog>
  <div class="element">I am on top of everything else</div>
</dialog>
<div class="backdrop">Backdrop element</div>

If you still want interactivity with the background elements, you can use the show() method. It is placed only horizontally centered to the screen.

document.querySelector("dialog").show();

<dialog>
  <div class="element">I am on top of everything else</div>
</dialog>
<div class="backdrop">Backdrop element to check if I am underneath or not.</div>