Introduction
Many times, when we visit the webpage, we have the background image on the webpage. We can create those types of full-page background images in this article. The full-page background image can enhance the user experience and make a website stand out.
Setting a Background Image
We have the capability to generate a background image that spans the entire page using the CSS background-image attribute. The essential requirement is to specify the URL of the image to be used as the background in the CSS background-image attribute.
By utilizing the example provided below, we can generate a background image that spans the entire webpage.
body {
background-image: url('/path/to/image.jpg');
}
In the provided code snippet, we have designated the body element as the container for the background image, which will showcase the subtle page background image.
When you require to specify a background image, it is crucial to take into account the image's dimensions in relation to the screen size. Failing to do so might result in a pixelated or distorted display on larger screens if the image is small. Conversely, using an excessively large image could adversely affect the webpage loading speed.
body {
background-image: url('/path/to/image.jpg');
background-size: cover;
}
In the preceding code snippet, a value of "cover" has been applied to instruct the browser to resize the image proportionally to fit the entire webpage while preserving its aspect ratio. Opting for this setting ensures that the image fills the center of the webpage without being stretched or distorted, making it a favorable option for developers seeking this specific layout.
Let us understand this by taking an example.
HTML code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Document</title>
<style>
body {
width: 100vw;
height: 100vh;
background: url('./JTP\ logo.png');
background-size: cover;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to C# Programming</h1>
</body>
</html>
Output:
Explanation:
In the provided code snippet, a background image has been added with a width of 100vw and a height of 100vh, while specifying the background-size property as cover.
Understanding the Background-size Property
There are some background-size property values, which are as follows.
- Auto: This value determines the background image's size based on the actual size of the image file. This is the default value for the background-size property in HTML.
- Length: This value helps us provide the length of the image, such as 20px or 10em. It also helps us set the width and height of the image to the specified values.
- Percentage: This allows us to set the size of the background image to 50% or 75%. It also helps to set the width and height of the image to a percentage of the size of the element.
- Cover: This value will scale the background image to be as large as possible so the image can cover the entire element while preserving its aspect ratio.
- Contains: This value also scales the background image to the largest size so that both the width and height of the background image fit inside the element.
- Initial: with the help of this value, we can set the property to its default value.
- Inherit: with the help of this value, we can inherit the value from its
- Inherit: with the help of this value, we can inherit the value from its parent element.
The image-set Function
By utilizing this function, we have the ability to offer varying versions of the image tailored for different screen resolutions. This feature proves to be extremely advantageous especially when accessing the website on a range of devices like smartphones and tablets, where high pixel densities are prevalent, and opting for a lower resolution image for devices with lower pixel densities.
Let us understand this by taking an example:
HTML code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Example of image set function</title>
<style>
body {
background-image: image-set(
'https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2023/12/15/14/49/city-8450817_960_720.jpg' 1x,
'https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1420678520/photo/building-site-at-sunset.webp?s=1024x1024&w=is&k=20&c=ONrTE_H-cufTeoklZpOxwStobm07QguCnfwCX6rnLuU=' 2x
);
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to C# Programming</h1>
</body>
</html>
Output:
Explanation:
In the preceding code snippet, two background images were added using the image set function. A lower-resolution image was specified for devices with a pixel density of 1x, while a higher-resolution image was designated for devices with a pixel density of 2x.
This function for managing image sets accepts a sequence of image URLs and different resolutions as parameters during its invocation.
Advanced Techniques for Full screen Backgrounds
There are various methods besides the CSS property that can be utilized to design a webpage with a background image. The background-repeat property stands out as a particularly valuable option. By employing this attribute, we have the capability to populate the webpage with the image being repeated both horizontally and vertically. Additionally, we have the flexibility to specify values such as repeat-x, repeat-y, or no-repeat to determine the repetition pattern of the image.
Let us understand this by taking an example.
HTML code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Example of image set function</title>
<style>
body {
font-weight: bold;
width: 100vw;
height: 100vh;
background: url('https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2023/12/15/14/49/city-8450817_960_720.jpg');
background-size: 250px;
background-repeat: repeat-x repeat-y;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to C# Programming</h1>
</body>
</html>
Output:
NOTE: If we set the background-size property as cover, then repeat won't have any effect. Also, with the help of the background-position property, we can specify the position of the background image inside the container. We can use this property to center the image or adjust its position to the container's left, right, top, or bottom. With the help of the background-blend-mode property, we can overlay multiple background images and create more complex effects. We can also specify the colors of the background images by taking the multiply, screen, and overlay in the background-blend-mode property.
Let us understand this by taking an example.
HTML code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Example of image set function</title>
<style>
body {
background-image: url('https://imgur.com/Fn9FQwT.jpg'), url('https://imgur.com/VfcgZZ9.jpg');
background-size: cover;
background-blend-mode: difference;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to C# Programming</h1>
</body>
</html>
Output:
Explanation:
In the provided code snippet, we've merged two images to serve as the backdrop for the body component. The initial image is centered while the subsequent image is aligned to the bottom within the container.
Adding Dynamic Background Images
Suppose you require dynamic background images in CSS. You can employ CSS attributes and JavaScript to dynamically alter the background image based on user actions or various events (such as modifying the background at specific time intervals).
Let us understand this by taking an example.
Code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Document</title>
<style>
body{
display:flex;
flex-direction: column;
place-items:center;
gap:4em;
}
div {
width: 100%;
height: 400px;
background-size: cover;
background-position: center;
background-image: url('https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1680264173542-17b325a3ae8b?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1629&q=80')
}
button{
padding:1em;
}
button:hover{
cursor:pointer;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div id="dynamic-background"></div>
<button id="change-image-button">Change background</button>
<script>
let dynamicBackground = document.getElementById('dynamic-background');
let button = document.getElementById('change-image-button');
let imageURLs = ['https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1680264173542-17b325a3ae8b?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1629&q=80', 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1680629197366-af64dd6ff2c7?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D&auto=format&fit=c rop&w=1042&q=80', 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1680629197575-09c7259542c9?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1034&q=80'];
let currentIndex = 0;
button.addEventListener('click', function() {
currentIndex = (currentIndex + 1) % imageURLs.length;
dynamicBackground.style.backgroundImage = `url( ${imageURLs[currentIndex]})`;
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
Output:
If the change background button is clicked, the background image will be updated.
When the user interacts with the button, the image undergoes a swap operation. Within the JavaScript code, the following implementation is in place:
let dynamicBackground = document.getElementById('dynamic-background');
let button = document.getElementById('change-image-button');
let imageURLs = ['https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1680264173542-17b325a3ae8b?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1629&q=80', 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1680629197366-af64dd6ff2c7?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1042&q=80', 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1680629197575-09c7259542c9?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1034&q=80'];
let currentIndex = 0;
button.addEventListener('click', function() {
currentIndex = (currentIndex + 1) % imageURLs.length;
dynamicBackground.style.backgroundImage = `url( ${imageURLs[currentIndex]})`;
});
How to Fix the CSS Background-image Not Working Error
There are numerous purposes for utilizing the CSS background-image attribute, yet it is encountering functionality issues. Listed below are some common issues:
- Inspect the image URL:
We need to verify that the URL pointing to the image is accurate and reachable. Another way to validate this is by attempting to access the URL in a web browser to check if the image displays correctly.
- Check the file path:
If opting for a local image, it is essential to validate the file path meticulously. It is equally important to confirm that the file resides in the appropriate folder concerning the CSS or HTML file specifying the background-image attribute. In case the image is stored in a separate directory, adjustments to the file path may be necessary.
- Double-check the file extension:
If a local image is being utilized, it is vital to verify that the file format indicated in the image file path (for instance, JPEG, PNG, GIF) corresponds with the true file format of the saved image.
- Validate the CSS syntax for any errors:
We must also examine the structure of the CSS code, including any absent or surplus characters, inaccurate attribute labels, or unauthorized values. A minor error could hinder the proper functionality of the background image attribute.
- Analyze the element using browser developer tools:
To examine the element, it is recommended to utilize the developer tools within the browser.