Background

The background is a decorative background of a GUI displayed in the options, end poem, etc.

Backgrounds

In Java Edition, backgrounds are only used when teleporting to another dimension. When teleporting to or from the Overworld or custom dimensions, a blurred panorama is displayed in the background instead. When teleporting to The Nether, the texture of the nether portal is displayed. When teleporting to The End, the texture of the end portal is displayed.

In Bedrock Edition, dirt backgrounds only appear in the credits, on connection error screens, and on the loading screen when teleporting to the Overworld using a nether portal.

Despite the texture of dirt being changed in Java Edition Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5 and Pocket Edition v0.2.0 alpha, the dirt backgrounds still use the old texture, except the dirt background when teleporting to the Overworld.‌^[1]

Dirt background.‌
Dirt background in End Poem.‌
Dirt background when teleporting to Overworld.‌

Netherrack background

This feature is exclusive to Bedrock Edition.

A background with netherrack texture is displayed when teleporting to the Nether.

Netherrack background‌

End stone background

This feature is exclusive to Bedrock Edition.

An background with end stone texture is displayed when teleporting to the End.

End stone background‌

Nether portal background

Java Edition

An unanimated Nether portal texture is displayed when changing dimension to or from the Nether in Java Edition. However, the texture is stretched to the size of the window and not a repeated texture like on Bedrock Edition.

Nether portal background‌

Bedrock Edition

A background with unanimated darkened nether portal texture is displayed in warnings while joining a Realm in Bedrock Edition.

Nether portal Background‌

End portal background

This feature is exclusive to Java Edition.

An unanimated End Portal texture is displayed when changing dimension to or from The End.

An animated End Portal texture is displayed when taking the end portal back to the Overworld after defeating the ender dragon.

End Portal background‌
Animated end portal background used for the end poem‌

History

Java Edition Classic
0.0.12a		Added a loading screen with a dirt background.
0.0.13a		Darkened overlay at dirt background.
Java Edition Indev
0.31	20100131-2156	Added menu screen, which also used the dirt background.
0.31	20100131-2156	The dirt background on the main menu would slowly scroll, similar to the later added credits.
20100206-2034		The main menu background is now stationary.
Java Edition Beta
1.8	(preview)	Replaced background in the main menu with panorama.
Java Edition
1.0.0	Beta 1.9 Prerelease 6	Added the End poem and the credits.
1.20	Pre-release 1	The texture used for the dirt background has been updated.^[1] The texture for dirt itself was updated in 1.0.0 (Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5), however the old version was still used until this version.
1.20.5	24w09a	The dirt background has effectively been removed, with new resource pack functionality relegating it to the Programmer Art resource pack. Instead of the dirt background for the main menu and settings, now a blurred panorama and blurred gameplay is used. The end gateway and nether portal textures are now used when travelling to The End and The Nether
Pocket Edition Alpha
Pre-release		Added dirt background.
v0.7.0		Replaced dirt background in the main menu with new background.
v0.7.3		Replaced background in the main menu with panorama.
v0.14.2		Brightened overlay at dirt background.
v0.16.0	build 1	Replaced dirt background with nether portal background when joining realm.
Pocket Edition
1.0.0	alpha 0.17.0.1	Added the End poem.
Bedrock Edition
1.2.0	beta 1.2.0.18	Dimension transition screens now have specific backgrounds with textures of dirt, netherrack and end stone.
1.10.0	beta 1.10.0.3	Changed textures of netherrack and end stone.