<color>

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.

Note: Although <color> values are precisely defined, their actual appearance may vary (sometimes significantly) from device to device. This is because most devices are not calibrated, and some browsers do not support output devices' color profiles.

Syntax

css

/* 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% / 0.8)

/* 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)

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 parameters in a color space using functional notations:
- sRGB color space: hsl(), hwb(), rgb();
- CIELAB color space: lab(), lch();
- Oklab color space: oklab(), oklch();
- Other color spaces: color().
By mixing two colors: color-mix().

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.

html

<div style="color: blue; border: 1px dashed currentcolor;">
  The color of this text is blue.
  <div style="background: currentcolor; height:9px;"></div>
  This block is surrounded by a blue border.
</div>

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 timing function in transitions and animations. The interpolation color space defaults to Oklab, but can be overriden through <color-interpolation-method> in some color-related functional notations.

Accessibility considerations

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> = 
  <absolute-color-base>  |
  currentcolor           |
  <system-color>         

<absolute-color-base> = 
  <hex-color>                |
  <absolute-color-function>  |
  <named-color>              |
  transparent                

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

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

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

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

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

<hue> = 
  <number>  |
  <angle>   

<colorspace-params> = 
  <predefined-rgb-params>  |
  <xyz-params>             

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

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

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

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

Examples

Color value tester

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

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

Fully saturated sRGB colors

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

HTML

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;
}

css

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

Reds of different shades

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

HTML

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;
}

css

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

Reds of different saturations

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

HTML

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;
}

css

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

Specification
CSS Color Module Level 4 # color-syntax

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser