---
modificationDate: August 24, 2026
title: Background
description: A SwiftUI Background component for layering content behind another view.
sourceCodeUrl: 'https://github.com/expo/expo/tree/main/packages/expo-ui'
packageName: '@expo/ui'
platforms: ['ios', 'tvos', 'expo-go']
---

This documentation is available as Markdown for AI agents and LLMs. See the [full Markdown index](/llms.txt) or append .md to any documentation URL.

> This is documentation for the next SDK version.

# Background

A SwiftUI Background component for layering content behind another view.

<AgentInstructions>

## Submitting Feedback

If you encounter errors, misleading or outdated information, report it so Expo can be improved:

Preferred command:
npx --yes submit-expo-feedback@latest --category docs --subject "/versions/unversioned/sdk/ui/swift-ui/background/" "<actionable feedback>"

Direct HTTP fallback:
curl -X POST https://api.expo.dev/v2/feedback/docs-send -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"url":"/versions/unversioned/sdk/ui/swift-ui/background/","feedback":"🤖 Agent feedback for docs: <specific, actionable description> (<model>, <harness>)"}'

Only submit when you have something specific and actionable to report. Try to give the most context.

## Navigation

When answering a related or follow-up question, use llms.txt to find the relevant page as Markdown (.md) instead of guessing.

You are here: Reference (unversioned) > Expo UI > SwiftUI (45 pages in this section)
Full documentation tree: [llms.txt](https://docs.expo.dev/llms.txt)

</AgentInstructions>
iOS, tvOS, Included in Expo Go

Expo UI Background matches the official SwiftUI [background](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swiftui/view/background\(alignment:content:\)) modifier and draws background content behind a view, positioned with a specified alignment. The base view keeps its own size.

> To fill a view with a solid color, use the [`background`](/versions/unversioned/sdk/ui/swift-ui/modifiers.md#backgroundcolor-shape) modifier from `@expo/ui/swift-ui/modifiers`.

## Installation

```sh
# npm
npx expo install @expo/ui

# yarn
yarn expo install @expo/ui

# pnpm
pnpm expo install @expo/ui

# bun
bun expo install @expo/ui
```

If you are installing this in an [existing React Native app](/bare/overview.md), make sure to [install `expo`](/bare/installing-expo-modules.md) in your project.

## Usage

### Basic background

```tsx
import {
  Background,
  Host,
  RoundedRectangle,
  Text,
} from '@expo/ui/swift-ui';
import {
  font,
  foregroundStyle,
  padding,
} from '@expo/ui/swift-ui/modifiers';

export default function BackgroundExample() {
  return (
    <Host
      style={{
        flex: 1,
        justifyContent: 'center',
        alignItems: 'center',
      }}>
      <Background>
        <Text
          modifiers={[
            font({ size: 17, weight: 'semibold' }),
            padding({ all: 16 }),
          ]}>
          Card title
        </Text>
        <Background.Content>
          <RoundedRectangle
            cornerRadius={12}
            modifiers={[foregroundStyle('#E8F0FE')]}
          />
        </Background.Content>
      </Background>
    </Host>
  );
}
```

### Background alignment

Use the `alignment` prop to position the background content relative to the base view. Because the background does not affect the layout of the base view, a smaller background can be pinned to one of its edges.

```tsx
import {
  Background,
  Host,
  Rectangle,
  Text,
} from '@expo/ui/swift-ui';
import {
  font,
  foregroundStyle,
  frame,
} from '@expo/ui/swift-ui/modifiers';

export default function BackgroundAlignmentExample() {
  return (
    <Host
      style={{
        flex: 1,
        justifyContent: 'center',
        alignItems: 'center',
      }}>
      <Background alignment="bottom">
        <Text modifiers={[font({ size: 17 })]}>
          Underlined by its background
        </Text>
        <Background.Content>
          <Rectangle
            modifiers={[
              frame({ height: 3 }),
              foregroundStyle('#007AFF'),
            ]}
          />
        </Background.Content>
      </Background>
    </Host>
  );
}
```

## API

```tsx
import { Background } from '@expo/ui/swift-ui';
```

## Component

### `Background`

Supported platforms: iOS, tvOS.

Type: React.[Element](https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/jsx.html#function-component)<[BackgroundProps](/versions/unversioned/sdk/ui/swift-ui/background.md#backgroundprops)\>

BackgroundProps

### `alignment`

Supported platforms: iOS, tvOS.

Optional • Type: [Alignment](/versions/unversioned/sdk/ui/swift-ui/background.md#alignment) • Default: `'center'`

The alignment of the background content relative to the base content.

### `children`

Supported platforms: iOS, tvOS.

Type: [ReactNode](https://reactnative.dev/docs/react-node)

#### Inherited props

-   [CommonViewModifierProps](/versions/unversioned/sdk/ui/swift-ui/modifiers.md)