Order of pages, objects and actions
March 23, 2009 12:00 AM
Sometimes people refer to an object that is in front of another object as being “on top” of it. But then they look at the left pane and see that it is the lowest item. It would seem that items on top would be at the top of the list on each page in the left pane. Appearances can be deceiving. Here is how it works. When a page is constructed by a browser (or rendering program) it puts items on the page in the order that they appear in the left pane. It starts at the top of the list and puts the first object down (or executes the first action). Then it puts the next object on the page (or executes the next action). If the next object happens to have the same x,y coordinates as the first, then it will be on top – like putting pieces of paper on a table – the first one you put down ends up on the bottom of the stack. So, when you look at the left pane, you need to remember that the items that are “on top” of other items are on the bottom of the list on any given page. That is why the terms “in front” and “behind” are a little clearer.Sometimes people refer to an object that is in front of another object as being “on top” of it. But then they look at the left pane and see that it is the lowest item. It would seem that items on top would be at the top of the list on each page in the left pane. Appearances can be deceiving. Here is how it works. When a page is constructed by a browser (or rendering program) it puts items on the page in the order that they appear in the left pane. It starts at the top of the list and puts the first object down (or executes the first action). Then it puts the next object on the page (or executes the next action). If the next object happens to have the same x,y coordinates as the first, then it will be on top – like putting pieces of paper on a table – the first one you put down ends up on the bottom of the stack. So, when you look at the left pane, you need to remember that the items that are “on top” of other items are on the bottom of the list on any given page. That is why the terms “in front” and “behind” are a little clearer.
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