Is a Relative Path in a CSS File Relative to the CSS File?

When working with CSS, referencing external files like images and other CSS files is a common practice. Understanding the relative path of these references is crucial for proper file location.

Relative Path in CSS: A Closer Look

A relative path in a CSS file is relative to the CSS file itself, not the HTML file using the CSS file. This means that when specifying a path for an image or another file, you need to provide a path that starts from the directory where the CSS file is located.

Understanding with an Example

To demonstrate this concept, consider the following layout:

• Page: page.htm (Location: Does not matter)
• CSS: /resources/css/styles.css
• Image: /resources/images/image.jpg

In the CSS file (styles.css):

div {
  background-image: url('../images/image.jpg');
}

In this example, the path to the image (image.jpg) in the CSS file starts with ../. This means "go up one directory" from the location of the CSS file (styles.css) and then navigate to the images directory where the image is stored.