`isolation` CSS property

The isolation CSS property determines whether an element must create a new stacking context.

isolation: auto;

isolation: isolate;

<section class="default-example" id="default-example">
  <div class="background-container">
    <div id="example-element">
      <img src="/shared-assets/images/examples/firefox-logo.svg" />
      <p><code>mix-blend-mode: multiply;</code></p>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>

.background-container {
  background-color: #f4f460;
  width: 250px;
}

#example-element {
  border: 1px solid black;
  margin: 2em;
}

#example-element * {
  mix-blend-mode: multiply;
  color: #8245a3;
}

This property is especially helpful when used in conjunction with mix-blend-mode and z-index.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
isolation: auto;
isolation: isolate;

/* Global values */
isolation: inherit;
isolation: initial;
isolation: revert;
isolation: revert-layer;
isolation: unset;

Values

This property is specified as one of the following keyword values:

• auto
  • : A new stacking context is created only if one of the properties applied to the element requires it.
• isolate
  • : A new stacking context must be created.

Formal definition

Formal syntax

Examples

Forcing a new stacking context for an element

HTML

<div class="big-square">
  <div class="isolation-auto">
    <div class="small-square">auto</div>
  </div>
  <div class="isolation-isolate">
    <div class="small-square">isolate</div>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.isolation-auto {
  isolation: auto;
}

.isolation-isolate {
  isolation: isolate;
}

.big-square {
  background-color: lime;
  width: 200px;
  height: 210px;
}

.small-square {
  background-color: lime;
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  border: 1px solid black;
  padding: 2px;
  mix-blend-mode: difference;
}

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• <blend-mode>
• mix-blend-mode, background-blend-mode