Hintergrund

Hintergrund is a German noun meaning background in both literal and figurative senses. It refers to what lies behind or forms the context of an event, scene, or statement, and to information that helps explain or situate something. Etymologically, it combines hinter- "behind" with Grund "ground" or "reason".

In visual contexts, der Hintergrund is the part of a scene that is behind the main subject, often contrasted with the foreground (Vordergrund). In journalism and everyday language, Hintergrund information (Hintergrundwissen) means contextual data that supports understanding but is not the primary message. In politics and media, a Hintergrundgespräch is a briefing for journalists conducted on the condition that sources are not named; information shared is intended for background use.

In computing and digital design, im Hintergrund (in the background) describes processes or tasks that run without direct user interaction, such as background processes or updates. The term also appears in product and user interface design as Hintergrundfarbe (background color) and Hintergrundbild (desktop wallpaper).

The word is cognate with the English "background" and is widely used in German-speaking domains to denote context, setting, or behind-the-scenes aspects.