::backdrop

Baseline Widely available *

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since March 2022.

* Some parts of this feature may have varying levels of support.

The ::backdrop CSS pseudo-element is a box the size of the viewport, which is rendered immediately beneath any element being presented in the top layer.

Try it

Syntax

css
::backdrop {
  /* ... */
}

Description

Backdrops appear in the following instances:

When multiple elements have been placed into the top layer, each one has its own ::backdrop pseudo-element.

css
/* Backdrop is only displayed when dialog is opened with dialog.showModal() */
dialog::backdrop {
  background: rgb(255 0 0 / 25%);
}

Elements are placed in a last-in/first out (LIFO) stack in the top layer. The ::backdrop pseudo-element makes it possible to obscure, style, or completely hide everything located below a top layer element.

::backdrop neither inherits from nor is inherited by any other elements. No restrictions are made on what properties apply to this pseudo-element.

Examples

Styling a modal dialog's backdrop

In this example, we use the ::backdrop pseudo-element to style the backdrop that is used when a modal <dialog> is open.

HTML

We include a <button> that, when clicked, will open the included <dialog>. When the <dialog> is opened, we give focus to the button that closes the dialog:

html
<dialog>
  <button autofocus>Close</button>
  <p>This modal dialog has a beautiful backdrop!</p>
</dialog>
<button>Show the dialog</button>

CSS

We add a background to the backdrop, creating a colorful donut using CSS gradients:

css
::backdrop {
  background-image:
    radial-gradient(
      circle,
      #fff 0 5vw,
      transparent 5vw 20vw,
      #fff 20vw 22.5vw,
      #eee 22.5vw
    ),
    conic-gradient(
      #272b66 0 50grad,
      #2d559f 50grad 100grad,
      #9ac147 100grad 150grad,
      #639b47 150grad 200grad,
      #e1e23b 200grad 250grad,
      #f7941e 250grad 300grad,
      #662a6c 300grad 350grad,
      #9a1d34 350grad 400grad,
      #43a1cd 100grad 150grad,
      #ba3e2e
    );
}

JavaScript

The dialog is opened modally using the .showModal() method and closed using the .close() method.

js
const dialog = document.querySelector("dialog");
const showButton = document.querySelector("dialog + button");
const closeButton = document.querySelector("dialog button");

// "Show the dialog" button opens the dialog modally
showButton.addEventListener("click", () => {
  dialog.showModal();
});

// "Close" button closes the dialog
closeButton.addEventListener("click", () => {
  dialog.close();
});

Results

Specifications

Specification
CSS Positioned Layout Module Level 4
# backdrop

Browser compatibility

Report problems with this compatibility data on GitHub
desktopmobile
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Chrome Android
Firefox for Android
Opera Android
Safari on iOS
Samsung Internet
WebView Android
WebView on iOS
::backdrop
Support on dialog elements
Fullscreen support
Backdrop elements inherit their values from its originating element
Support on popovers

Legend

Tip: you can click/tap on a cell for more information.

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Has more compatibility info.

See also