position Position

Typically indicates whether a display object (for example, figure, table, boxed text) must be anchored in its exact location within the text or may float to a different location in the document (for example, top of the next page, into the next column, within a separate window). Also used to indicate that the display object should be placed in the margin or used as a background image behind the text.
OPTIONAL (defaults to float) on many elements; click for list and usage
Value Meaning
anchor The object must remain in its exact location in the text flow.
background The object (typically an image) is used as background displayed visually “behind” the narrative text.
float The object is not anchored and may be moved to a new column, a new window, a new page, the end of the document, etc.
margin In print, the object should be placed in the margin or gutter; online, the object should remain closely associated with the text.
Default value float
OPTIONAL (defaults to float) on element: <fig>
Value Meaning
Text, numbers, or special characters Whether the figure (<fig> must be anchored in its exact location within the text or may float to a different location in the document (for example, top of the next page). Values for this attribute are unlimited; they include any one of the values listed above, as well as other values such as “float-left” and “float-right”.
Default value float
Tagged Sample

Figure anchored to its place in the text

...
<sec id="s5_1">
 <label>5.1</label>
 <title>Two approaches to addressing accessibility in 
  standards</title>
 ...
 <p><xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">Figure 1</xref> provides 
  a graphical summary of how this Guide can be used.</p>
 <fig id="f1" orientation="portrait" position="anchor">
  <label>Figure 1</label>
  <caption>
   <title>Two approaches to address accessibility in 
    standards</title>
  </caption>
  <graphic xlink:href="g3658.jpg"/>
 </fig>
 ...
</sec>
...