# Is the ModalController Documentation incorrect?

**URL:** <https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/is-the-modalcontroller-documentation-incorrect/125990>\
**Category:** ionic-v3\
**Created:** [March 26, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/is-the-modalcontroller-documentation-incorrect/125990 "2018-03-26T19:22:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brkwon713](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b19c9b/32.png) [@brkwon713](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/brkwon713)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/is-the-modalcontroller-documentation-incorrect/125990/1 "2018-03-26T19:22:20Z")

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The ModalController doc says that the modal presents itself in the root nav stack, but when I invoke the instance method getRootNav() for App, I do not get a Nav with the modal in it. I do however see it in a different Nav when I run getActiveNavContainers() for App.

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**Author:** ![leonardoss](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ionicframework/user_avatar/forum.ionicframework.com/leonardoss/32/114499_2.png) [@leonardoss](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/leonardoss)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/is-the-modalcontroller-documentation-incorrect/125990/2 "2018-03-26T20:12:11Z")

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No, this is the exactly behaviour we expect, because modal should be over all the elements, and if you place it at the root level it will make easier to control and to prevent problems with scopes and zones.

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**Author:** ![brkwon713](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b19c9b/32.png) [@brkwon713](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/brkwon713)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 8:21pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/is-the-modalcontroller-documentation-incorrect/125990/3 "2018-03-26T20:21:54Z")

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So how come getRootNav() does not have the Modal view in it? It seems that getRootNav() returns me the Nav stack that is underneath the modal. But the doc clearly says that the modal presents itself in the root Nav Stack.

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**Author:** ![AaronSterling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@AaronSterling](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/AaronSterling)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/is-the-modalcontroller-documentation-incorrect/125990/4 "2018-03-26T20:55:21Z")

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There’s a difference between an Overlay and a Page. A modal is an Overlay. The Overlay is added to the root nav, and you can dismiss it by popping the root nav, but if you want to manipulate an Overlay, use the ViewController.

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**Author:** ![leonardoss](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ionicframework/user_avatar/forum.ionicframework.com/leonardoss/32/114499_2.png) [@leonardoss](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/leonardoss)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/is-the-modalcontroller-documentation-incorrect/125990/5 "2018-03-26T20:57:59Z")

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Because rootNav is the Ionic-Nav component, it only take care of whats is inside this navigation. Modals are no included in ionic nav.

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**Author:** ![brkwon713](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b19c9b/32.png) [@brkwon713](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/brkwon713)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/is-the-modalcontroller-documentation-incorrect/125990/6 "2018-03-26T21:28:59Z")

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Thanks for the info!

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**Author:** ![mhartington](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ionicframework/user_avatar/forum.ionicframework.com/mhartington/32/137757_2.png) [@mhartington](https://forum.ionicframework.com/u/mhartington)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 9:42pm UTC](https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/is-the-modalcontroller-documentation-incorrect/125990/7 "2021-07-19T21:42:49Z")

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