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CSS background - Shorthand property

A shorthand property packs several declarations into one, and background does this for all the background properties, which keeps the code shorter.

It covers background-color, background-image, background-position, background-size, background-repeat, background-attachment, background-origin, and background-clip.

Any value you omit falls back to its default.

Example

Color, image, repeat, and position all sit in a single shorthand declaration here.

Prompt
An HTML page that sets several background properties at once using the background shorthand. In an internal <style> block, set the body background using a single shorthand declaration: background: #ffffff url("img_tree.png") no-repeat right top. Add a heading and a paragraph.
Output: complete HTML page

Long form

Written as separate properties, the same background takes all of these lines, which the shorthand replaces.

styles.css
body {
background-color: #ffffff;
background-image: url("img_tree.png");
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position: right top;
}

All CSS Background Properties

Quick reference for the background properties:

  • background — all the background properties in a single declaration.
  • background-attachment — whether a background image scrolls with the page or stays fixed.
  • background-clip — the area the background is painted in.
  • background-color — the color behind an element.
  • background-image — the image used as an element's background.
  • background-origin — where the background image is positioned.
  • background-position — where a background image starts.
  • background-repeat — how a background image repeats.
  • background-size — how big the background image is.