The HTML background color is a fundamental aspect of web design, allowing you to visually enhance a webpage. Background colors can enhance the overall interactivity of a webpage by making it visually appealing. The Background Color can be referred to as implementing the color in the background of any webpage or application. In this blog, you will gain a clear understanding of what HTML background color is and how to use simple HTML and CSS code to add a background color.
Table of Contents:
What Is Background Color in HTML?
The HTML background color defines the color applied to the background of the website or application with the help of the background-color property in CSS. This CSS property sets the color of the element.
Syntax:
<element style="background-color: colorname;"> Content </element>
Methods to Add Background Color in HTML
Adding background color is easy by using HTML and CSS. There are several ways to add background color in HTML using a combination of HTML and CSS. The following methods will help you learn how to add background color in HTML.
1. Using the bgcolor attribute
For the elements, like the <body>, <table>, <td>, and <tr>, the bgcolor attribute can be used to set the HTML background color. This attribute can take color names, hex, or RGB as its value. This attribute is deprecated and not recommended for use in HTML5.
Note: The bgcolor attribute is deprecated in HTML5, meaning it’s no longer recommended and may be removed in the future. Instead, use the CSS background-color property for better flexibility, cleaner code, and forward compatibility.
Example:
Output:
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2. Using Inline CSS:
Inline styling is used to apply the HTML background color. Inline CSS uses a global style attribute for adding CSS inside the HTML tags. By using the “style” attribute, you can set the background color only for one element. Here is the syntax to use:
<element style="background-color: lightblue;">Content</element>
The HTML background color code is given below.
Example:
Output:
Here, the background-color property only applies to the div element, and not to the entire background.
3. Using Internal CSS
You can use internal CSS to add an HTML background color to the website. Internal CSS uses the <style> tag inside the <head> section. It can offer you clearer and more readable syntax for writing code. The HTML background color code is given below.
Example:
The following example illustrates the internal styling of the Background-color Property.
Output:
4. Using External CSS
This type of styling uses the external CSS file, which is linked to the HTML file with the help of the <link> tag inside the <head> tag. The syntax below is used to include the external CSS file. This is the most recommended and widely used method for adding a CSS background-color.
Syntax:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
Example:
index.html
Styles.css:
body {
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
background-color: rgb(82, 131, 90);
color: white;
}
Output:
Discover the power of CSS font-family and create stylish text layouts with this guide.
How to Create CSS Gradients for Backgrounds?
Gradients in CSS allow you to create a smooth transition between two or more colors. Gradients in CSS are important for creating eye-catching and beautiful backgrounds, buttons, headers, and more without using any background image. There are two main types of gradients in CSS:
1. Linear Gradient
A linear gradient creates a smooth transition between two or more colors along a straight line. This can be helpful in producing the gradient in various directions, such as from top to bottom, left to right, or at specific angles. The code for the HTML background color is given below.
Syntax:
background: linear-gradient(direction, color1, color2, ...);
Example:
Output:
2. Radial Gradient
A radial gradient is another type of gradient that radiates outward in a circular or elliptical shape from a central point. The gradient starts from the center with one color, and then gradually makes transitions to other colors and moves towards the edges.
Syntax:
background: radial-gradient(shape size at position, start-color, ..., last-color);
Example:
Output:
Advanced Background Effects in CSS
As you move beyond simple solid colors, you can use CSS to create visually rich and modern designs. Advanced background effects allow you to combine images, colors, and gradients to make your webpage more engaging and readable. These techniques help you enhance the look and feel of your HTML background color without affecting the performance of your site.
Let’s explore three advanced background effects in CSS.
1. Using background-blend-mode for Creative Designs
The background-blend-mode property lets you mix background images and colors, just like blending layers in graphic design tools such as Photoshop. It defines how an image and color should interact visually. This property is useful when you want to apply a color tone or gradient over an image without using external editing tools.
Example:
Output:
Explanation: In this example, a dark gradient is blended with a background image using the overlay mode. It adds depth and improves text readability without needing extra HTML elements.
2. Adding Overlays for Better Contrast
When text sits directly over an image, it can sometimes become difficult to read. The easiest way to fix this issue is by adding a semi-transparent overlay. An overlay creates contrast between the text and the background, helping your content stand out clearly.
Example:
Output:
Explanation:
Here, the ::before pseudo-element creates a dark transparent layer on top of the background image. This technique keeps the text readable while still maintaining the beauty of the HTML background color or image behind it.
3. Animated and Parallax Backgrounds
Adding subtle motion can make your web page more dynamic. You can use CSS animations or parallax scrolling to create interactive backgrounds that move or change smoothly.
Animated Gradient Example:
Output:
Explanation: The background-attachment: fixed property makes the background stay still while the page content scrolls over it. This creates a classic parallax effect, which is a popular technique in modern web design.
Best Practices for HTML background color
1. Always Provide a Fallback Solid Color First: Before adding images or gradients, use a solid HTML background color so users with images disabled still see a clean layout.
2. Check and Enforce Accessible Contrast: When text sits over images or gradients, make sure your HTML background color maintains at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio for readability, using overlays if needed.
3. Use CSS Variables for Theme Consistency: Define variables like –bg-primary, –bg-accent, and –bg-muted in the :root selector to easily manage your HTML background color scheme and support theme switching.
4. Optimize Images and Avoid Large Background Files: Use modern image formats like WebP or AVIF and properly size them for mobile and desktop to keep your HTML background color designs fast and efficient.
5. Prefer ‘background-size: cover’ Carefully and Test Focal Points: The cover value ensures full coverage, but can crop key image parts. Therefore, you need to always test across devices and adjust with background-position or layered colors.
Real-World Applications of HTML Background Color
1. Website Branding and Identity: Businesses use HTML background color to reflect their brand identity. For example, using company colors to create a consistent visual impression.
2. Highlighting Sections and Content: Designers apply different background colors to separate sections like headers, footers, or sidebars, making the layout easier to read and navigate.
3. Creating Readable Text Overlays: A solid or semi-transparent HTML background color helps improve text visibility when placed over images or videos.
4. Theming and Dark Mode Designs: Websites use background color variables to switch between light and dark themes smoothly, enhancing user comfort and accessibility.
5. Error Messages and Notifications: Alert boxes, success messages, and warnings often use distinct background colors like red or green to quickly convey meaning to users.
Browser Compatibility
The background-color CSS property is fully supported by all modern browsers. Here is the list of all the browsers that support the background-color property:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Safari
- Microsoft Edge
- Opera Mini
- Internet Explorer (From IE4)
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Conclusion
The background-color property in CSS is an important and useful tool that helps in making a webpage more interactive. It allows developers to add color to the background of any HTML elements. You can use solid colors, transparent shades, or create linear and radial gradients. The background-color attribute is mostly used by developers to set the background colors of the website. You can use different color formats like color names, hex codes, RGB, HSL, or even CSS variables to set the background color of your website. Thus, understanding HTML background color is very important to master web development.
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HTML Background Color – FAQs
Q1. What is the shorthand property used for the CSS background-color property?
The background shorthand property can be used to set single or multiple background properties, including the background-color property
Q2. Is it possible to inherit the background-color property?
No, by default, the background-color property is not inherited, however, it can be set to inherit by applying it to child elements using the CSS Selectors.
Q3. How to implement the CSS variables with the background-color property?
CSS variables can be utilized to define the reusable colors for the CSS background-color property.
Q4. Is it possible to combine the CSS background-color property with other background properties?
Yes, you can use the background shorthand property to combine the background-color property with other background properties, such as the background-image property.
Q5. What is a color code?
Color code is defined as the system that uses specific colors to represent information and convey meaning.
Q6. Which method is best to set background color in HTML?
The best way to set a HTML background color is by using the CSS background-color property.
Q7. How do I make background color responsive?
You can make a background color responsive by using CSS media queries to change the background-color based on screen size or device type.
Q8. Are CSS gradients better than plain background colors?
CSS gradients can be better than plain background colors for adding depth and visual interest, but plain colors load faster and are simpler for minimal designs.
Q9. Can I use a responsive background color in HTML and CSS?
Yes, you can use responsive background color techniques by applying media queries in your CSS.
Q10. What are some best practices for CSS background-color for SEO?
For best practices CSS background-color SEO, focus on using contrast for readability. High contrast between text and background color ensures your content is accessible and easy for search engines to crawl. Also, keeping styling in a separate CSS file improves site performance and crawlability.