[csswg-drafts] [css2.2] Clarify that position and float have no effect on display: contents (#12551)

kannanwisen has just created a new issue for https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts:

== [css2.2] Clarify that position and float have no effect on display: contents ==
Hello CSS Working Group,

This issue is to suggest a clarification in the CSS 2 specification, section 9.7 ("Relationships between display, position, and float"), which is inherited by modern layout modules.

The current text states:

    If display has the value none, then position and float do not apply. In this case, the element generates no box.

This statement is correct, but it is incomplete in the context of modern CSS. The value display: contents behaves identically in this regard.

An element with display: contents also generates no principal box for the position and float properties to apply to. Therefore, for consistency and clarity, display: contents should be included in this rule.

**Proposal for Clarification**

I suggest updating the text to include contents. A more accurate and complete statement would be:

    If display has the value none or contents, then position and float do not apply. In this case, the element generates no box.

This small change would align the foundational text with the behavior of modern CSS, providing a clearer and more accurate rule for developers who refer to the specification.

Thank you for your consideration.

Please view or discuss this issue at https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/12551 using your GitHub account


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Received on Thursday, 31 July 2025 02:47:40 UTC