How To Place Text on Image using HTML and CSS?

Last Updated : 15 Jul, 2025

To place text on an image using HTML and CSS, you can use different techniques to make the text look good and easy to read. Here, we will explore two approaches for placing text over an image using simple HTML and CSS.

1. Using Absolute Positioning

This approach uses absolute positioning to place the text directly on top of the image. The container that holds the image is positioned relatively, while the text is positioned absolutely inside it, allowing precise control over the text placement.

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <style>
        .gfg {
            position: relative;
            width: 100%;
            text-align: center;
        }

        .text-container {
            position: absolute;
            color: rgb(255, 255, 255);
            left: 50%;
            top: 50%;
            transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
            background-color: rgba(41, 41, 41, 0.8);
            padding: 0.5rem;
            text-align: center;
            font-size: 16px;
        }
    </style>
</head>

<body>
    <div class="gfg">
        <img src="https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/cdn-uploads/20190710102234/download3.png" 
            style="width: 50%; height: 60vh;">
        <div class="text-container">
            <h3>Sample</h3>
            <p>Mountains Image with river</p>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>

</html>

Explanation

Container Setup: The .gfg class is set to position: relative so that the .text-container can be positioned absolutely within this container.
Text Styling: The .text-container uses position: absolute to overlay the text on the image and is centered using left: 50%, top: 50%, and transform: translate(-50%, -50%) for horizontal and vertical centering.
Background and Padding: A semi-transparent background (rgba) is added to the text container for readability, with padding to create space around the text.

Output

absolute-positioning — Place Text on Image using HTML and CSS

2. Using CSS background-image Property

In this approach, the image is used as a background for a div, and the text is overlaid within the container. This is useful when you want the image to cover the entire container, and you want to have flexible control over the text overlay.

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <style>
        .container {
            position: relative;
            width: 400px;
            height: 300px;
            background-image: url("https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/cdn-uploads/20190710102234/download3.png");
            background-size: cover;
            background-size: 100% 100%;
            color: white;
            text-align: center;
            line-height: 300px;
        }

        .text {
            background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
            font-size: 20px;
            font-weight: bold;
            padding: 10px;
        }
    </style>
</head>

<body>
    <center>
        <div class="container">
            <div class="text">Text on Image : (GeeksforGeeks)</div>
        </div>
    </center>
</body>

</html>