`<color>` CSS type

The <color> CSS data type represents a color. A <color> may also include an alpha-channel transparency value, indicating how the color should composite with its background.

Syntax

/* Named colors */
rebeccapurple
aliceblue

/* RGB Hexadecimal */
#f09
#ff0099

/* RGB (Red, Green, Blue) */
rgb(255 0 153)
rgb(255 0 153 / 80%)

/* HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) */
hsl(150 30% 60%)
hsl(150 30% 60% / 80%)

/* HWB (Hue, Whiteness, Blackness) */
hwb(12 50% 0%)
hwb(194 0% 0% / 0.5)

/* Lab (Lightness, A-axis, B-axis) */
lab(50% 40 59.5)
lab(50% 40 59.5 / 0.5)

/* LCH (Lightness, Chroma, Hue) */
lch(52.2% 72.2 50)
lch(52.2% 72.2 50 / 0.5)

/* Oklab (Lightness, A-axis, B-axis) */
oklab(59% 0.1 0.1)
oklab(59% 0.1 0.1 / 0.5)

/* OkLCh (Lightness, Chroma, Hue) */
oklch(60% 0.15 50)
oklch(60% 0.15 50 / 0.5)

/* Relative CSS colors */
/* HSL hue change */
hsl(from red 240deg s l)
/* HWB alpha channel change */
hwb(from green h w b / 0.5)
/* LCH lightness change */
lch(from blue calc(l + 20) c h)

/* light-dark */
light-dark(white, black)
light-dark(rgb(255 255 255), rgb(0 0 0))

A <color> value can be specified using one of the methods listed below:

• By keywords: <named-color> (such as blue or pink), <system-color>, and currentColor.
• By hexadecimal notations: <hex-color> (such as #ff0000).
• By <color-function>, with parameters in a color space using functional notations:
  • sRGB color space: hsl(), hwb(), and rgb().
  • CIELAB color space: lab() and lch().
  • Oklab color space: oklab() and oklch().
  • Other color spaces: color(), device-cmyk().
• By using relative color syntax to output a new color based on an existing color. Any of the above color functions can take an origin color preceded by the from keyword and followed by definitions of the channel values for the new output color.
• By mixing two colors: color-mix().
• By specifying a color that you want a contrasting color returned for: contrast-color().
• By specifying two colors, using the first for light color-schemes and the second for dark color-schemes: light-dark().

currentColor keyword

The currentColor keyword represents the value of an element's color property. This lets you use the color value on properties that do not receive it by default.

If currentColor is used as the value of the color property, it instead takes its value from the inherited value of the color property.

<div class="container">
  The color of this text is blue.
  <div class="child"></div>
  This block is surrounded by a blue border.
</div>

.container {
  color: blue;
  border: 1px dashed currentColor;
}
.child {
  background: currentColor;
  height: 9px;
}

Missing color components

Each component of any CSS color functions - except for those using the legacy comma-separated syntax - can be specified as the keyword none to be a missing component.

Explicitly specifying missing components in color interpolation is useful for cases where you would like to interpolate some color components but not others. For all other purposes, a missing component will effectively have a zero value in an appropriate unit: 0, 0%, or 0deg. For example, the following colors are equivalent when used outside of interpolation:

/* These are equivalent */
color: oklab(50% none -0.25);
color: oklab(50% 0 -0.25);

/* These are equivalent */
background-color: hsl(none 100% 50%);
background-color: hsl(0deg 100% 50%);

Interpolation

Color interpolation happens with gradients, transitions, and animations.

When interpolating <color> values, they are first converted to a given color space, and then each component of the computed values are interpolated linearly, with interpolation's speed being determined by the easing function in transitions and animations. The interpolation color space defaults to Oklab, but can be overridden through <color-interpolation-method> in some color-related functional notations.

Interpolation with missing components

Interpolating colors in the same space

When interpolating colors that are exactly in the interpolation color space, missing components from one color are replaced with existing values of the same components from the other color. For example, the following two expressions are equivalent:

color-mix(in oklch, oklch(none 0.2 10), oklch(60% none 30))
color-mix(in oklch, oklch(60% 0.2 10), oklch(60% 0.2 30))

Interpolating colors from different spaces: analogous components

If any color to be interpolated is not in the interpolation color space, its missing components are transferred into the converted color based on analogous components of the same category as described in the following table:

For example:

• X (0.2) in color(xyz 0.2 0.1 0.6) is analogous to R (50%) in rgb(50% 70% 30%).
• H (0deg) in hsl(0deg 100% 80%) is analogous to H (140) in oklch(80% 0.1 140).

Using OkLCh as the interpolation color space and the two colors below as an example:

lch(80% 30 none)
color(display-p3 0.7 0.5 none)

The preprocessing procedure is:

1. Replace the missing components in both colors with a zero value:

   lch(80% 30 0)
   color(display-p3 0.7 0.5 0)
   

2. Convert both colors into the interpolation color space:

   oklch(83.915% 0.0902 0.28)
   oklch(63.612% 0.1522 78.748)
   

3. If any component of the converted colors is analogous to a missing component in the corresponding original color, reset it as a missing component:

   oklch(83.915% 0.0902 none)
   oklch(63.612% 0.1522 78.748)
   

4. Replace any missing component with the same component from the other converted color:

   oklch(83.915% 0.0902 78.748)
   oklch(63.612% 0.1522 78.748)
   

Accessibility

Some people have difficulty distinguishing colors. The WCAG 2.2 recommendation strongly advises against using color as the only means of conveying a specific message, action, or result. See color and color contrast for more information.

Formal syntax

<color> = 
  <color-base> |
  currentColor |
  <system-color> |
  <light-dark()> |
  <deprecated-system-color>

<color-base> = 
  <hex-color> |
  <color-function> |
  <named-color> |
  <color-mix()> |
  transparent

<system-color> = 
  AccentColor |
  AccentColorText |
  ActiveText |
  ButtonBorder |
  ButtonFace |
  ButtonText |
  Canvas |
  CanvasText |
  Field |
  FieldText |
  GrayText |
  Highlight |
  HighlightText |
  LinkText |
  Mark |
  MarkText |
  SelectedItem |
  SelectedItemText |
  VisitedText

<light-dark()> = 
  light-dark( <color>, <color> )

<deprecated-system-color> = 
  ActiveBorder |
  ActiveCaption |
  AppWorkspace |
  Background |
  ButtonHighlight |
  ButtonShadow |
  CaptionText |
  InactiveBorder |
  InactiveCaption |
  InactiveCaptionText |
  InfoBackground |
  InfoText |
  Menu |
  MenuText |
  Scrollbar |
  ThreeDDarkShadow |
  ThreeDFace |
  ThreeDHighlight |
  ThreeDLightShadow |
  ThreeDShadow |
  Window |
  WindowFrame |
  WindowText

<color-function> = 
  <rgb()> |
  <rgba()> |
  <hsl()> |
  <hsla()> |
  <hwb()> |
  <lab()> |
  <lch()> |
  <oklab()> |
  <oklch()> |
  <color()>

<named-color> = 
  aliceblue |
  antiquewhite |
  aqua |
  aquamarine |
  azure |
  beige |
  bisque |
  black |
  blanchedalmond |
  blue |
  blueviolet |
  brown |
  burlywood |
  cadetblue |
  chartreuse |
  chocolate |
  coral |
  cornflowerblue |
  cornsilk |
  crimson |
  cyan |
  darkblue |
  darkcyan |
  darkgoldenrod |
  darkgray |
  darkgreen |
  darkgrey |
  darkkhaki |
  darkmagenta |
  darkolivegreen |
  darkorange |
  darkorchid |
  darkred |
  darksalmon |
  darkseagreen |
  darkslateblue |
  darkslategray |
  darkslategrey |
  darkturquoise |
  darkviolet |
  deeppink |
  deepskyblue |
  dimgray |
  dimgrey |
  dodgerblue |
  firebrick |
  floralwhite |
  forestgreen |
  fuchsia |
  gainsboro |
  ghostwhite |
  gold |
  goldenrod |
  gray |
  green |
  greenyellow |
  grey |
  honeydew |
  hotpink |
  indianred |
  indigo |
  ivory |
  khaki |
  lavender |
  lavenderblush |
  lawngreen |
  lemonchiffon |
  lightblue |
  lightcoral |
  lightcyan |
  lightgoldenrodyellow |
  lightgray |
  lightgreen |
  lightgrey |
  lightpink |
  lightsalmon |
  lightseagreen |
  lightskyblue |
  lightslategray |
  lightslategrey |
  lightsteelblue |
  lightyellow |
  lime |
  limegreen |
  linen |
  magenta |
  maroon |
  mediumaquamarine |
  mediumblue |
  mediumorchid |
  mediumpurple |
  mediumseagreen |
  mediumslateblue |
  mediumspringgreen |
  mediumturquoise |
  mediumvioletred |
  midnightblue |
  mintcream |
  mistyrose |
  moccasin |
  navajowhite |
  navy |
  oldlace |
  olive |
  olivedrab |
  orange |
  orangered |
  orchid |
  palegoldenrod |
  palegreen |
  paleturquoise |
  palevioletred |
  papayawhip |
  peachpuff |
  peru |
  pink |
  plum |
  powderblue |
  purple |
  rebeccapurple |
  red |
  rosybrown |
  royalblue |
  saddlebrown |
  salmon |
  sandybrown |
  seagreen |
  seashell |
  sienna |
  silver |
  skyblue |
  slateblue |
  slategray |
  slategrey |
  snow |
  springgreen |
  steelblue |
  tan |
  teal |
  thistle |
  tomato |
  turquoise |
  violet |
  wheat |
  white |
  whitesmoke |
  yellow |
  yellowgreen

<color-mix()> = 
  color-mix( <color-interpolation-method> , [ <color> && <percentage [0,100]>? ]#{2})

<color> = 
  <color-base> |
  currentColor |
  <system-color> |
  <light-dark()> |
  <deprecated-system-color>

<rgb()> = 
  rgb( <percentage>#{3} , <alpha-value>? ) |
  rgb( <number>#{3} , <alpha-value>? ) |
  rgb( [ <number> | <percentage> | none ]{3} [ / [ <alpha-value> | none ] ]? )

<rgba()> = 
  rgba( <percentage>#{3} , <alpha-value>? ) |
  rgba( <number>#{3} , <alpha-value>? ) |
  rgba( [ <number> | <percentage> | none ]{3} [ / [ <alpha-value> | none ] ]? )

<hsl()> = 
  hsl( <hue>, <percentage>, <percentage>, <alpha-value>? ) |
  hsl( [ <hue> | none ] [ <percentage> | <number> | none ] [ <percentage> | <number> | none ] [ / [ <alpha-value> | none ] ]? )

<hsla()> = 
  hsla( <hue>, <percentage>, <percentage>, <alpha-value>? ) |
  hsla( [ <hue> | none ] [ <percentage> | <number> | none ] [ <percentage> | <number> | none ] [ / [ <alpha-value> | none ] ]? )

<hwb()> = 
  hwb( [ <hue> | none ] [ <percentage> | <number> | none ] [ <percentage> | <number> | none ] [ / [ <alpha-value> | none ] ]? )

<lab()> = 
  lab( [<percentage> | <number> | none] [ <percentage> | <number> | none] [ <percentage> | <number> | none] [ / [<alpha-value> | none] ]? )

<lch()> = 
  lch( [<percentage> | <number> | none] [ <percentage> | <number> | none] [ <hue> | none] [ / [<alpha-value> | none] ]? )

<oklab()> = 
  oklab( [ <percentage> | <number> | none] [ <percentage> | <number> | none] [ <percentage> | <number> | none] [ / [<alpha-value> | none] ]? )

<oklch()> = 
  oklch( [ <percentage> | <number> | none] [ <percentage> | <number> | none] [ <hue> | none] [ / [<alpha-value> | none] ]? )

<color()> = 
  color( [ from <color> ]? <colorspace-params> [ / [ <alpha-value> | none ] ]? )

<color-interpolation-method> = 
  in [ <rectangular-color-space> | <polar-color-space> <hue-interpolation-method>? | <custom-color-space> ]

<alpha-value> = 
  <number> |
  <percentage>

<hue> = 
  <number> |
  <angle>

<colorspace-params> = 
  [<custom-params> | <predefined-rgb-params> | <xyz-params>]

<rectangular-color-space> = 
  srgb |
  srgb-linear |
  display-p3 |
  display-p3-linear |
  a98-rgb |
  prophoto-rgb |
  rec2020 |
  lab |
  oklab |
  xyz |
  xyz-d50 |
  xyz-d65

<polar-color-space> = 
  hsl |
  hwb |
  lch |
  oklch

<hue-interpolation-method> = 
  [ shorter | longer | increasing | decreasing ] hue

<custom-color-space> = 
  <dashed-ident>

<custom-params> = 
  <dashed-ident> [ <number> | <percentage> | none ]+

<predefined-rgb-params> = 
  <predefined-rgb> [ <number> | <percentage> | none ]{3}

<xyz-params> = 
  <xyz> [ <number> | <percentage> | none ]{3}

<predefined-rgb> = 
  srgb |
  srgb-linear |
  display-p3 |
  display-p3-linear |
  a98-rgb |
  prophoto-rgb |
  rec2020

<xyz> = 
  xyz |
  xyz-d50 |
  xyz-d65

Examples

Exploring color values

In this example, we provide a <div> and a text input. Entering a valid color into the input causes the <div> to adopt that color, allowing you to test our color values.

HTML

<div></div>
<hr />
<label for="color">Enter a valid color value:</label>
<input type="text" id="color" />

div {
  height: 200px;
  width: 200px;
}

const inputElem = document.querySelector("input");
const divElem = document.querySelector("div");

function validTextColor(stringToTest) {
  if (stringToTest === "inherit" || stringToTest === "transparent") {
    return false;
  }

  const div = document.createElement("div");
  div.style.color = stringToTest;
  return !!div.style.color;
}

inputElem.addEventListener("input", () => {
  if (validTextColor(inputElem.value)) {
    divElem.style.backgroundColor = inputElem.value;
    divElem.textContent = "";
  } else {
    divElem.removeAttribute("style");
    divElem.textContent = "Invalid color value";
  }
});

Result

Generating fully saturated sRGB colors

This example shows fully saturated sRGB colors in the sRGB color space.

HTML

<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>

CSS

body {
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}
div {
  height: 80px;
  margin: 10px;
  width: 80px;
}

div:nth-child(1) {
  background-color: hsl(0 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(2) {
  background-color: hsl(30 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(3) {
  background-color: hsl(60 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(4) {
  background-color: hsl(90 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(5) {
  background-color: hsl(120 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(6) {
  background-color: hsl(150 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(7) {
  background-color: hsl(180 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(8) {
  background-color: hsl(210 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(9) {
  background-color: hsl(240 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(10) {
  background-color: hsl(270 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(11) {
  background-color: hsl(300 100% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(12) {
  background-color: hsl(330 100% 50%);
}

Result

Creating different shades of red

This example shows reds of different shades in the sRGB color space.

HTML

<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>

CSS

body {
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}
div {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  height: 80px;
  margin: 10px;
  width: 80px;
}

div:nth-child(1) {
  background-color: hsl(0 100% 0%);
}
div:nth-child(2) {
  background-color: hsl(0 100% 20%);
}
div:nth-child(3) {
  background-color: hsl(0 100% 40%);
}
div:nth-child(4) {
  background-color: hsl(0 100% 60%);
}
div:nth-child(5) {
  background-color: hsl(0 100% 80%);
}
div:nth-child(6) {
  background-color: hsl(0 100% 100%);
  border: solid;
}

Result

Creating reds of different saturation

This example shows reds of different saturations in the sRGB color space.

HTML

<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>

CSS

body {
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}
div {
  height: 80px;
  margin: 10px;
  width: 80px;
}

div:nth-child(1) {
  background-color: hsl(0 0% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(2) {
  background-color: hsl(0 20% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(3) {
  background-color: hsl(0 40% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(4) {
  background-color: hsl(0 60% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(5) {
  background-color: hsl(0 80% 50%);
}
div:nth-child(6) {
  background-color: hsl(0 100% 50%);
}

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• opacity: the property defining transparency at the element level
• <hue>: the data type representing the hue angle of a color
• color, background-color, border-color, box-shadow, outline-color, text-shadow: common properties that use <color>
• color() function
• Applying color to HTML elements using CSS
• Using relative colors
• New functions, gradients, and hues in CSS colors (Level 4) on MDN blog (2023)