Question about positioning definitions

I'm writing up notes from Eric Meyer's book, explaining CSS here they are:
----------------------------

CSS Positioning

Static: The element's box is generated as normal.

Block level - rectangular box that is part of the doc flow
Inline - rectangular boxes in the context of lne boxes flowing in parent
element.

Relative: The element?s box is offset by stated distance. Element stays
same shape and the place in flow remains ? as if element were not moved.
Over lapping of other elements can occur.

Absolute: Element is removed from its place in the document and positioned
in relationship to containing block. Has height, width, top, right,
bottom, left, and margins, padding, borders. Margins do not collapse.

Fixed: Element is postioned as absolute, except the contianing block is
viewport (browser window).

Inherit Value is inherited from parent element not from default attribute.
-------------------------------------------------

The question is: What is the difference between the parent element and
the containing block?

FDYocum <theyocum (AT) dejazzd (DOT) com> wrote:

The question is: What is the difference between the parent element and
the containing block?

http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/visudet.html#x0

Steve

--
"My theories appal you, my heresies outrage you,
I never answer letters and you don't like my tie." - The Doctor

Steve Pugh <steve (AT) pugh (DOT) net> <http://steve.pugh.net/>