What is the purpose of the background-color property in CSS?

The background-color property in CSS is specifically designed to define the background color of an element. When this property is applied, it allows you to set the color that fills the area behind the content of an element, creating visual distinction and enhancing the overall design of a webpage. This can be useful for highlighting sections, improving readability, or adding aesthetic appeal to the layout.

For instance, if you want to give a div element a light blue background, you would use the following CSS rule:

div {

background-color: lightblue;

}

This will ensure that the entire background of the div is light blue, which could improve the visibility of any text or elements placed inside it. The versatility of this property allows web developers to create various visual effects by using solid colors, transparent colors, or even gradients.