When working with complex designs in Fabric.js, you will often need to control the stacking order of objects—deciding which shapes, images, or text appear above or below others. This stacking order is also known as the z-order or "layering." By default, objects are stacked in the order they are added to the canvas: new objects appear above older ones. However, you can precisely control this order using Fabric.js methods such as bringToFront, sendToBack, bringForward, and sendBackwards.

The bringToFront method moves an object above all others, making it the topmost element on the canvas. Conversely, sendToBack places an object below all others. If you want finer control, bringForward and sendBackwards allow you to move an object up or down one step in the stacking order. These methods give you the flexibility to manage overlapping elements and create visually appealing compositions.

Suppose you have several overlapping shapes on your canvas. If a rectangle is partially hidden by a circle, you can select the rectangle and use bringToFront to move it above the circle. Similarly, if you want to push an object behind others, sendToBack will do the job. Understanding and using these methods is essential for advanced object management and for building interactive, user-friendly applications.