Static is where an element would normally be. Relative is just like static except you're saying "I'd like that where it normally would be except a little to the left" or whatever direction you wish. Absolute is like taking that picture in your word or publisher document and setting it so that the words will go right through the picture whether they be under or over as if the picture didn't exist. You're basically saying "I want this element here and I don't care what is around it and what it overlaps (or underlaps). And finally, fixed is like that bar at the top of facebook. No matter how far down the page you scroll, you will always see it. With absolute, relative, and fixed you are using the top, right, left, and bottom properties with a value like a percentage or a pixel amount to specify the location.