What is the difference between background, backgroundTint, backgroundTintMode attributes in android layout xml?

Question

I tested various combinations of android:background, android:backgroundTint and android:backgroundTintMode.

android:backgroundTint applies the color filter to the resource of android:background when used together with android:backgroundTintMode.

Here are the results:

Here's the code if you want to experiment further:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    app:layout_behavior="@string/appbar_scrolling_view_behavior"
    tools:showIn="@layout/activity_main">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="32dp"
        android:textSize="45sp"
        android:background="#37AEE4"
        android:text="Background" />

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="32dp"
        android:textSize="45sp"
        android:backgroundTint="#FEFBDE"
        android:text="Background tint" />

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="32dp"
        android:textSize="45sp"
        android:background="#37AEE4"
        android:backgroundTint="#FEFBDE"
        android:text="Both together" />

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="32dp"
        android:textSize="45sp"
        android:background="#37AEE4"
        android:backgroundTint="#FEFBDE"
        android:backgroundTintMode="multiply"
        android:text="With tint mode" />
    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="32dp"
        android:textSize="45sp"
        android:text="Without any" />
</LinearLayout>

I won't stress much on the difference as it is already covered, but notice the below:

• android:backgroundTint android:backgroundTintMode are only available at API 21
• If you have a widget that has a png/vector drawable background set by android:background, and you want to change its default color, then you can use android:backgroundTint to add a shade to it.

example

<Button
    android:layout_width="50dp"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:background="@android:drawable/ic_dialog_email" />

<Button
    android:layout_width="50dp"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:background="@android:drawable/ic_dialog_email"
    android:backgroundTint="@color/colorAccent" />

Another example

If you try to change the accent color of the FloatingActionButton using android:background you won't notice a change, that is because it's already utilizes app:srcCompat, so in order to do that you can use android:backgroundTint instead

The backgroundTint attribute will help you to add a tint(shade) to the background. You can provide a color value for the same in the form of - "#rgb", "#argb", "#rrggbb", or "#aarrggbb".

The backgroundTintMode on the other hand will help you to apply the background tint. It must have constant values like src_over, src_in, src_atop, etc.

Refer this to get a clear idea of the the constant values that can be used. Search for the backgroundTint attribute and the description along with various attributes will be available.

BackgroundTint works as color filter.

FEFBDE as tint

37AEE4 as background

Try seeing the difference by comment tint/background and check the output when both are set.