background-image

The background-image CSS property sets one or more background images on an element.

Try it

The background images are drawn on stacking context layers on top of each other. The first layer specified is drawn as if it is closest to the user.

The borders of the element are then drawn on top of them, and the background-color is drawn beneath them. How the images are drawn relative to the box and its borders is defined by the background-clip and background-origin CSS properties.

If a specified image cannot be drawn (for example, when the file denoted by the specified URI cannot be loaded), browsers handle it as they would a none value.

Note: Even if the images are opaque and the color won't be displayed in normal circumstances, web developers should always specify a background-color. If the images cannot be loaded—for instance, when the network is down—the background color will be used as a fallback.

Syntax

css

/* single image */
background-image: linear-gradient(black, white);
background-image: url("catfront.png");

/* multiple images */
background-image: radial-gradient(circle, #0000 45%, #000f 48%),
  radial-gradient(ellipse farthest-corner, #fc1c14 20%, #cf15cf 80%);

/* Global values */
background-image: inherit;
background-image: initial;
background-image: revert;
background-image: revert-layer;
background-image: unset;

Each background image is specified either as the keyword none or as an <image> value.

To specify multiple background images, supply multiple values, separated by a comma.

Values

none: Is a keyword denoting the absence of images.
<image>: Is an <image> denoting the image to display. There can be several of them, separated by commas, as multiple backgrounds are supported.

Accessibility concerns

Browsers do not provide any special information on background images to assistive technology. This is important primarily for screen readers, as a screen reader will not announce its presence and therefore convey nothing to its users. If the image contains information critical to understanding the page's overall purpose, it is better to describe it semantically in the document.

Additionally, it is important to ensure that the contrast ratio between the background image and the foreground text is high enough that people with low vision can read the page content.

Color contrast ratio is determined by comparing the luminance of the text and background color values. To meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a ratio of 4.5:1 is required for body text content and 3:1 for larger text such as headings. Large text is defined as 24px or larger, or bolded 18.66px or larger.

Formal definition

Initial value	`none`
Applies to	all elements. It also applies to `::first-letter` and `::first-line`.
Inherited	no
Computed value	as specified, but with `url()` values made absolute
Animation type	discrete

Formal syntax

background-image = 
  <bg-image>#  

<bg-image> = 
  <image>  |
  none     

<image> = 
  <url>       |
  <gradient>  

<url> = 
  <url()>  |
  <src()>  

<url()> = 
  url( <string> <url-modifier>* )  |
  <url-token>                      

<src()> = 
  src( <string> <url-modifier>* )

Examples

Layering background images

Note that the star image is partially transparent and is layered over the cat image.

HTML

html

<div>
  <p class="catsandstars">This paragraph is full of cats<br />and stars.</p>
  <p>This paragraph is not.</p>
  <p class="catsandstars">Here are more cats for you.<br />Look at them!</p>
  <p>And no more.</p>
</div>

CSS

css

p {
  font-weight: bold;
  font-size: 1.5em;
  color: white;
  text-shadow: 0.07em 0.07em 0.05em black;
  background-image: none;
  background-color: transparent;
}

div {
  background-image: url("mdn_logo_only_color.png");
}

.catsandstars {
  background-image: url("startransparent.gif"), url("catfront.png");
  background-color: transparent;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Backgrounds and Borders Module Level 3 # background-image

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser