diff --git a/FlexLove.lua b/FlexLove.lua
index f0903e2..2804c10 100644
--- a/FlexLove.lua
+++ b/FlexLove.lua
@@ -1799,7 +1799,16 @@ function Element:draw()
     )
   end
 
+  -- Sort children by z-index before drawing
+  local sortedChildren = {}
   for _, child in ipairs(self.children) do
+    table.insert(sortedChildren, child)
+  end
+  table.sort(sortedChildren, function(a, b)
+    return a.z < b.z
+  end)
+
+  for _, child in ipairs(sortedChildren) do
     child:draw()
   end
 end
diff --git a/examples/ZIndexDemo.lua b/examples/ZIndexDemo.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d8e874
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/ZIndexDemo.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+-- Example demonstrating z-index functionality
+-- Elements with higher z-index appear on top (drawn last)
+
+package.path = package.path .. ";?.lua"
+require("testing/loveStub")
+local FlexLove = require("FlexLove")
+local Gui = FlexLove.GUI
+local Color = FlexLove.Color
+
+print("=== Z-Index Demo ===\n")
+
+-- Example 1: Top-level elements with different z-indices
+print("1. Top-Level Elements")
+print("   Creating 3 overlapping elements with different z-indices\n")
+
+local back = Gui.new({
+  id = "back",
+  x = 10,
+  y = 10,
+  width = 100,
+  height = 100,
+  z = 1,
+  background = Color.new(1, 0, 0, 0.8),
+  text = "Z=1 (Back)",
+  textColor = Color.new(1, 1, 1),
+})
+
+local middle = Gui.new({
+  id = "middle",
+  x = 50,
+  y = 50,
+  width = 100,
+  height = 100,
+  z = 2,
+  background = Color.new(0, 1, 0, 0.8),
+  text = "Z=2 (Middle)",
+  textColor = Color.new(1, 1, 1),
+})
+
+local front = Gui.new({
+  id = "front",
+  x = 90,
+  y = 90,
+  width = 100,
+  height = 100,
+  z = 3,
+  background = Color.new(0, 0, 1, 0.8),
+  text = "Z=3 (Front)",
+  textColor = Color.new(1, 1, 1),
+})
+
+print("Before draw:")
+for i, elem in ipairs(Gui.topElements) do
+  print(string.format("  %d. %s (z=%d)", i, elem.id, elem.z))
+end
+
+-- Trigger sorting by calling draw
+Gui.draw()
+
+print("\nAfter draw (sorted by z-index):")
+for i, elem in ipairs(Gui.topElements) do
+  print(string.format("  %d. %s (z=%d)", i, elem.id, elem.z))
+end
+print("   Draw order: back → middle → front ✓")
+
+-- Example 2: Children with z-indices
+print("\n2. Children with Z-Indices")
+print("   Children are also sorted by z-index within parent\n")
+
+Gui.destroy()
+
+local parent = Gui.new({
+  id = "parent",
+  x = 0,
+  y = 0,
+  width = 300,
+  height = 300,
+  background = Color.new(0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 1),
+})
+
+-- Create children in random z-order
+local child3 = Gui.new({
+  parent = parent,
+  id = "child3",
+  x = 150,
+  y = 150,
+  width = 80,
+  height = 80,
+  z = 3,
+  background = Color.new(0, 0, 1, 0.8),
+  text = "Z=3",
+  textColor = Color.new(1, 1, 1),
+})
+
+local child1 = Gui.new({
+  parent = parent,
+  id = "child1",
+  x = 50,
+  y = 50,
+  width = 80,
+  height = 80,
+  z = 1,
+  background = Color.new(1, 0, 0, 0.8),
+  text = "Z=1",
+  textColor = Color.new(1, 1, 1),
+})
+
+local child2 = Gui.new({
+  parent = parent,
+  id = "child2",
+  x = 100,
+  y = 100,
+  width = 80,
+  height = 80,
+  z = 2,
+  background = Color.new(0, 1, 0, 0.8),
+  text = "Z=2",
+  textColor = Color.new(1, 1, 1),
+})
+
+print("Children added in order: child3, child1, child2")
+print("Children z-indices: child3.z=3, child1.z=1, child2.z=2")
+print("\nDuring draw, children will be sorted and drawn:")
+print("  1. child1 (z=1) - drawn first (back)")
+print("  2. child2 (z=2) - drawn second (middle)")
+print("  3. child3 (z=3) - drawn last (front) ✓")
+
+-- Example 3: Negative z-indices
+print("\n3. Negative Z-Indices")
+print("   Z-index can be negative for background elements\n")
+
+Gui.destroy()
+
+local background = Gui.new({
+  id = "background",
+  x = 0,
+  y = 0,
+  width = 200,
+  height = 200,
+  z = -1,
+  background = Color.new(0.2, 0.2, 0.2, 1),
+  text = "Background (z=-1)",
+  textColor = Color.new(1, 1, 1),
+})
+
+local normal = Gui.new({
+  id = "normal",
+  x = 50,
+  y = 50,
+  width = 100,
+  height = 100,
+  z = 0,
+  background = Color.new(0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 1),
+  text = "Normal (z=0)",
+  textColor = Color.new(1, 1, 1),
+})
+
+Gui.draw()
+
+print("Elements sorted by z-index:")
+for i, elem in ipairs(Gui.topElements) do
+  print(string.format("  %d. %s (z=%d)", i, elem.id, elem.z))
+end
+print("   Background element drawn first ✓")
+
+-- Example 4: Default z-index
+print("\n4. Default Z-Index")
+print("   Elements without explicit z-index default to 0\n")
+
+Gui.destroy()
+
+local default1 = Gui.new({
+  id = "default1",
+  x = 10,
+  y = 10,
+  width = 50,
+  height = 50,
+  background = Color.new(1, 0, 0, 1),
+})
+
+local explicit = Gui.new({
+  id = "explicit",
+  x = 30,
+  y = 30,
+  width = 50,
+  height = 50,
+  z = 1,
+  background = Color.new(0, 1, 0, 1),
+})
+
+local default2 = Gui.new({
+  id = "default2",
+  x = 50,
+  y = 50,
+  width = 50,
+  height = 50,
+  background = Color.new(0, 0, 1, 1),
+})
+
+print("default1.z =", default1.z, "(default)")
+print("explicit.z =", explicit.z, "(explicit)")
+print("default2.z =", default2.z, "(default)")
+
+Gui.draw()
+
+print("\nAfter sorting:")
+for i, elem in ipairs(Gui.topElements) do
+  print(string.format("  %d. %s (z=%d)", i, elem.id, elem.z))
+end
+print("   Elements with z=0 drawn first, then z=1 ✓")
+
+print("\n=== Summary ===")
+print("• Z-index controls draw order (lower z drawn first, appears behind)")
+print("• Top-level elements are sorted by z-index in Gui.draw()")
+print("• Children are sorted by z-index within parent.draw()")
+print("• Default z-index is 0")
+print("• Negative z-indices are supported")
+print("• Higher z-index = drawn later = appears on top")
diff --git a/testing/loveStub.lua b/testing/loveStub.lua
index 3259886..215e7a4 100644
--- a/testing/loveStub.lua
+++ b/testing/loveStub.lua
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ function love_helper.graphics.setColor(r, g, b, a)
   -- Mock color setting
 end
 
+function love_helper.graphics.setFont(font)
+  -- Mock font setting
+end
+
 function love_helper.graphics.rectangle(mode, x, y, width, height)
   -- Mock rectangle drawing
 end