CSS Backgrounds Tutorial with Examples

CSS Background Overview
CSS background-color
CSS background-image
CSS background-repeat
CSS background-origin
CSS background-position
CSS background-size

1. CSS Background Overview

CSS provides several properties helping you to define background effects for an element, which are:

background-color
background-image
background-repeat
background-attachment
background-position

2. CSS background-color

CSS background-color is used to set the background color of an element.

/* Keyword values */
background-color: red;
background-color: indigo;

/* Hexadecimal value */
background-color: #bbff00;    /* Fully opaque */
background-color: #bf0;       /* Fully opaque shorthand */
background-color: #11ffee00;  /* Fully transparent */
background-color: #1fe0;      /* Fully transparent shorthand  */
background-color: #11ffeeff;  /* Fully opaque */
background-color: #1fef;      /* Fully opaque shorthand  */

/* RGB value */
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 128);        /* Fully opaque */
background-color: rgba(117, 190, 218, 0.5);  /* 50% transparent */

/* HSL value */
background-color: hsl(50, 33%, 25%);         /* Fully opaque */
background-color: hsla(50, 33%, 25%, 0.75);  /* 75% transparent */

/* Special keyword values */
background-color: currentcolor;
background-color: transparent;

/* Global values */
background-color: inherit;
background-color: initial;
background-color: unset;

Using the RGBA function helps you create a color with opacity. You can use this color as the background color of an element. This opacity only works with the element background. It does not affect element contents and chil elements.

<div style="background-color: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.1);">
     {background-color: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.1);}
</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.3);">
     {background-color: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.3);}
</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.6);">
     {background-color: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.6);}
</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(76, 175, 80);">
    {background-color: rgba(76, 175, 80);}
</div>

For example, create an almost transparent box containing the description text of an image.

background-color-grba-example2.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>CSS background-color</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8"/>
    <style>
       .img-container {
          display: inline-block;
          position: relative;
       }
       .img-desc {
          position: absolute;
          left: 5px;
          right: 5px;
          bottom: 15px;
          padding: 5px;
          text-align: center;
          background-color: rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.3);
          color: white;
       }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h3>CSS background-color with GRBA function</h3>
    <div class = "img-container">
       <img src="../images/image.png" width="320" height="178"/>
       <div class="img-desc">
          This is an Image
       </div>
    </div>
    <p style="font-style: italic;">
       { background-color: GRBA(76, 175, 80, 0.3); }
    </p>
</body>
</html>

See also:
CSS Color
CSS Opacity

3. CSS background-image

CSS background-image is used to set one or more background images for an element.

div {
  padding: 5px;
  margin-top: 10px;
  border: 1px solid #ddd;
  height: 115px;
}
.bg-a {
  background-image: url('../images/bg1.png');
}
.bg-b {
  background-image: url('../images/bg2.png');
}
.bg-ab {
  background-image: url('../images/bg1.png'), url('../images/bg2.png');
}

Each background image will be drawn on a transparent layer. These layers are overlapped

Image illustrating an element with the participation of the components: background-color, background-images, borders.

Element border is drawn on the layer closest to the user.
Next is layers for drawing the background image and layers for drawing background color

Syntax

background-image: none;
background-image: «image»; 
background-image: «image», «image», «image»;

none

Is a keyword denoting the absence of images.

«image»

Of which «image» can be one of the following functions:

url( url-string )
image( image-tags? [ image-src? , color? ] )
image-set( image-set-option# )
element( id-selectors )
paint( ident , declaration-value )
cross-fade( cf-mixing-image, cf-final-image)
linear-gradient( [ angle | to side-or-corner ]? , color-stop-list )
repeating-linear-gradient( [ angle | to side-or-corner ]? , color-stop-list )
radial-gradient( [ ending-shape> || size ]? [ at position ]? , color-stop-list )
repeating-radial-gradient( [ ending-shape || size ]? [ at position ]? , color-stop-list )
conic-gradient( [ from angle ]? [ at position ]?, angular-color-stop-list )

Example:

background-image: none;

background-image: url( '../images/bg.png' );

background-image: image(ltr 'arrow.png#xywh=0,0,16,16', red);

background-image: image-set( "cat.png" 1x, "cat-2x.png" 2x, "cat-print.png" 600dpi);

background-image: element( #myElementId );

(!) paint(  ident ,  declaration-value ) ;

background-image: cross-fade( url(red.png) 33.33%, url(yellow.png) 33.33%, url(blue.png) 33.33%);

background-image: linear-gradient(red, yellow, blue);

background-image: repeating-linear-gradient(45deg, #3f87a6, #ebf8e1 15%, #f69d3c 20%);

background-image: repeating-radial-gradient(#e66465, #9198e5 20%);

background-image: conic-gradient(at 50% 50%, yellow 0deg, orange 360deg);

4. CSS background-repeat

CSS background-repeat is used to set how a background image is repeated. It can be repeated horizontally, vertically or both, or not repeated.

/* Keyword values */
background-repeat: repeat-x;
background-repeat: repeat-y;
background-repeat: repeat;
background-repeat: space;
background-repeat: round;
background-repeat: no-repeat;

/* Two-value syntax: horizontal | vertical */
background-repeat: repeat space;
background-repeat: repeat repeat;
background-repeat: round space;
background-repeat: no-repeat round;

/* Global values */
background-repeat: inherit;
background-repeat: initial;
background-repeat: unset;

One value syntax is a shortened form of a complete syntax of two values:

Single value	Two-value equivalent
repeat-x	repeat no-repeat
repeat-y	no-repeat repeat
repeat	repeat repeat
space	space space
round	round round
no-repeat	no-repeat no-repeat

repeat

Image will be repeated many times, enough so that it can cover the entire space of the element. Final image can be clipped to ensure that it is not drawn over element.

space

The image is repeated as much as possible without clipping. The first and last images are pinned to either side of the element, and whitespace is distributed evenly between the images. CSS background-position property is ignored unless only one image can be displayed without clipping. The only case where clipping happens using space is when there isn't enough room to display one image.

round

Images is repeated like {background-repeat: space}, but images can be zoomed in to ensure there is no free space between images.

no-repeat

The image is not repeated (and hence the background image painting area will not necessarily be entirely covered).

background-repeat-example.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>CSS background-repeat</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8"/>
    <script>
        function setBgRepeat(value) {
           var myElement = document.getElementById("my-div");
           myElement.style.backgroundRepeat = value;
        }
    </script>
    <style>
       #my-div {
          border: 1px solid gray;
          height:110px;
          width: 310px;
          margin-top: 10px;
          background-image: url('../images/flower.png');
       }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h3>CSS background-repeat</h3>
    Background Image:
    <img src="../images/flower.png" /> <hr/>
    <p style="color:blue;">Set CSS background-repeat:</p>

    <input name ="abc" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('repeat-x')" /> repeat-x <br/>
    <input name ="abc" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('repeat-y')" /> repeat-y <br/>
    <input name ="abc" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('repeat')" checked/> repeat <br/>
    <input name ="abc" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('space')" /> space <br/>
    <input name ="abc" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('round')" /> round <br/>
    <input name ="abc" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('no-repeat')" /> no-repeat <br/>
    <div id = "my-div"> </div>
</body>
</html>

5. CSS background-origin

CSS background-orgin is used to set the orgin position of background image. It can take one of the following values:

border-box
padding-box (Default)
content-box

CSS {background-origin: border-box}

CSS {background-origin: padding-box}

CSS {background-origin: content-box}

background-origin-example.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>CSS background-origin</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8"/>
    <script>
        function setBgOrigin(value) {
           var myElement = document.getElementById("my-div");
           myElement.style.backgroundOrigin = value;
        }
        function setBgRepeat(value) {
           var myElement = document.getElementById("my-div");
           myElement.style.backgroundRepeat = value;
        }
    </script>
    <style>
      .option {
         padding: 5px;
         width: 160px;
         display:inline-block;
         border: 1px solid gray;
      }
       #my-div {
          border: 20px dashed gray;
          height:110px;
          width: 310px;
          margin-top: 10px;
          padding: 15px;
          background-image: url('../images/flower.png');
          background-repeat: no-repeat;
       }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h3>CSS background-origin</h3>
    Background Image:
    <img src="../images/flower.png" /> <hr/>
    <div class="option">
      <p style="color:blue;">background-origin:</p>
      <input name ="a" type="radio" onClick="setBgOrigin('border-box')" /> border-box <br/>
      <input name ="a" type="radio" onClick="setBgOrigin('padding-box')" checked/> padding-box <br/>
      <input name ="a" type="radio" onClick="setBgOrigin('content-box')" /> content-box
    </div>
    <div class="option">
      <p style="color:blue;">background-repeat:</p>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('repeat-x')" /> repeat-x <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('repeat-y')" /> repeat-y <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('repeat')" /> repeat <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('space')" /> space <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('round')" /> round <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('no-repeat')" checked/> no-repeat
    </div>
    <div id = "my-div"> </div>
</body>
</html>

6. CSS background-position

CSS background-position is used to set the starting position of each background image (relative to the origin position)

/* Keyword values */
background-position: top;
background-position: bottom;
background-position: left;
background-position: right;
background-position: center;

/* <percentage> values */
background-position: 25% 75%;

/* <length> values */
background-position: 0 0;
background-position: 1cm 2cm;
background-position: 10ch 8em;

/* Multiple images */
background-position: 0 0, center;

/* Edge offsets values */
background-position: bottom 10px right 20px;
background-position: right 3em bottom 10px;
background-position: bottom 10px right;
background-position: top right 10px;

/* Global values */
background-position: inherit;
background-position: initial;
background-position: unset;

Example:

background-position-example.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>CSS background-position</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8"/>
    <script src="background-position-example.js"> </script>
    <style>
      .option {
         padding: 5px;
         display:inline-block;
         border: 1px solid gray;
      }
       #my-div {
          border: 20px dashed gray;
          height:110px;
          width: 310px;
          margin-top: 10px;
          padding: 15px;
          background-image: url('../images/flower.png');
          background-repeat: no-repeat;
       }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h3>CSS background-position</h3>
    Background Image:
    <img src="../images/flower.png" /> <hr/>
    <div class="option">
      <p style="color:red;">background-position:</p>

      <input name ="x" type="radio" onClick="setBgPosition('1px 2px 5px 10px')" /> top <br/>
      <input name ="x" type="radio" onClick="setBgPosition('bottom')" /> bottom <br/>
      <input name ="x" type="radio" onClick="setBgPosition('left')" /> left <br/>
      <input name ="x" type="radio" onClick="setBgPosition('right')" /> right <br/>
      <input name ="x" type="radio" onClick="setBgPosition('center')" /> center <br/>
      <input name ="x" type="radio" onClick="setBgPosition('left top')" checked/> left top <br/>
      <input name ="x" type="radio" onClick="setBgPosition('left bottom')" /> left bottom <br/>
      <input name ="x" type="radio" onClick="setBgPosition('bottom 10px right')" />
               bottom 10px right <br/>
      <input name ="x" type="radio" onClick="setBgPosition('bottom 10px right 20px')" />
               bottom 10px right 20px <br/>
       ... <br/>
    </div>
    <div class="option">
      <p style="color:blue;">background-origin:</p>
      <input name ="a" type="radio" onClick="setBgOrigin('border-box')" /> border-box <br/>
      <input name ="a" type="radio" onClick="setBgOrigin('padding-box')" checked/> padding-box <br/>
      <input name ="a" type="radio" onClick="setBgOrigin('content-box')" /> content-box
    </div>
    <div class="option">
      <p style="color:blue;">background-repeat:</p>

      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('repeat-x')" /> repeat-x <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('repeat-y')" /> repeat-y <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('repeat')" /> repeat <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('space')" /> space <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('round')" /> round <br/>
      <input name ="b" type="radio" onClick="setBgRepeat('no-repeat')" checked/> no-repeat
    </div>
    <div id = "my-div"> </div>
</body>
</html>

background-position-example.js

function setBgPosition(value) {
   var myElement = document.getElementById("my-div");
   myElement.style.backgroundPosition = value;
}
function setBgOrigin(value) {
   var myElement = document.getElementById("my-div");
   myElement.style.backgroundOrigin = value;
}
function setBgRepeat(value) {
   var myElement = document.getElementById("my-div");
   myElement.style.backgroundRepeat = value;
}

CSS background-position accepts 1- value, 2- value, 3-value or 4 -value syntax.

1-value syntax

CSS background-position in 1-value syntax accepts the following values:

center
left, top, right, bottom
10px, 5cm, 20%,...

/* Keyword values */
background-position: top;
background-position: bottom;
background-position: left;
background-position: right;
background-position: center;

/* <percentage> values */
background-position: 25% 75%;

/* <length> values */
background-position: 0;
background-position: 1cm;
background-position: 10ch;

2-value syntax

CSS background-position in 2-value syntax accepts the following values:

Value	Same As
left top	top left
left bottom	bottom left
right top	top right
right bottom	bottom right
10px 20cm
10% 20px
...

Note: In 2-value syntax, if you provide an invalid value it will be ignored by browser. For example, CSS {background-position: left left} is an invalid value.

3-value syntax

3-value syntax is an extension of 2-value syntax. You can understand it better through the following illustration:

/* Edge offsets values */

background-position: bottom 10px right;
background-position: top right 10px;

4-value syntax

4-value syntax is an extension of 2-value syntax.You can understand it better through the following illustration:

/* Edge offsets values */
background-position: bottom 10px right 20px;
background-position: right 3em bottom 10px;

7. CSS background-size

TODO