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

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>

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.

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