Quick fix: load the TikZ positioning library

Name the first node, then place later nodes relative to it. By default, node distance separates the node borders; the two-value form sets vertical and horizontal distances.

Prefer right=of start to the older right of=start. The older form measures placement differently and is easy to mix up with the newer border-spacing behavior.

Positioning-library errors and fixes

• Unknown operator 'of' or a node appears in the wrong place: load positioning before the picture.
• Nodes overlap: set node distance=8mm and 14mm or use a local distance such as right=2cm of start.
• Text baselines do not line up: use base right=of or base left=of instead of the ordinary directions.
• A node moves when its text changes: relative placement normally measures between borders. Use on grid only when you deliberately want center-to-center placement.

Basic Position Keywords

TikZ provides intuitive keywords for common positions:

Distance Control

Control the distance between text and reference point:

Anchor-Based Positioning

Use anchors for precise control over where text is placed:

Labels on Paths

Position text along lines and curves:

Sloped Text

Make text follow the angle of a path:

Rotated Text

Rotate text to any angle:

Text Alignment

Control multi-line text alignment:

Labels with Arrows

Position labels on arrows and annotate diagrams:

Pin and Label

Add labels that point to nodes:

Fit Library for Grouping

Create labels for groups of nodes:

Next Steps

Continue learning TikZ:

• TikZ Basic Setup - Load libraries and start a diagram
• TikZ Arrows - Connect positioned nodes with modern arrow tips
• Annotations - Callouts and explanatory text
• Flowcharts - Apply positioning to diagrams
• Graphs - Label network diagrams