CSS - Colors

Previous
Next

CSS uses color values to specify a color. Typically, these are used to set a color either for the foreground of an element (i.e. its text) or else for the background of the element. They can also be used to affect the color of borders and other decorative effects.

You can specify your color values in various formats. Following table lists all the possible formats −

Format Syntax Description Example
Keyword <property>: <colorname> CSS has a set of predefined color names that you can use directly. red, blue, green, yellow, black, white, etc.
Hexadecimal Code #RRGGBB Starts with a hash (#) followed by six hexadecimal digits. #FF0000 - red
Short Hexadecimal Code #RGB Shorter version of hexadecimal format where each of the RGB components is represented by a single digit, and the value is duplicated. #F00 - red
RGB rgb(red,green,blue) Colors can be defined using the rgb() function, which takes three parameters representing the red, green, and blue values. rgb(0, 0, 255) - blue
RGBA rgba() Similar to RGB, with an additional parameter for the alpha (transparency) value. 0 (fully transparent) and 1 (fully opaque) rgba(0,0,255,0.5) - translucent blue
HSL hsl() Colors can be defined using the rgb() function which stands for Hue (0 to 360 degree), Saturation (%), and Lightness (%). hsl(120, 100%, 50%) - pure green
HSLA hsla() Similar to HSL, with an additional parameter for the alpha (transparency) value. hsl(120, 100%, 50%, 0.5) - translucent green
currentcolor Keyword currentcolor It refers to the value of the color property of the element. color: red; /* Red text color */ border: 10px solid currentcolor; /* Red border color */
System color as per OS or browser CSS allows usage of system colors defined by the user's OS or browser. ButtonText, Window, WindowText

These formats are explained in more detail in the following sections −

CSS Colors - Keyword

CSS supports the color names to be directly passed to the property background-color and color. 140 standard color names are supported by CSS.

Few of the examples are listed in the table below:

Color Color Name
  Black
  Red
  Blue
  Green
  Aquamarine

Here is an example:

<html>
<head>
<style>
   #colorkeyword{
      background-color: aqua;
      padding: 10px;
   }
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h3>Color Keyword - example</h3>
      <p>As the keyword passed is aqua, the background will appear as aqua colored..</p>
   <div id="colorkeyword">
      This div element has a colored background based on the color keyword passed, i.e aqua.
   </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS Colors - Hexadecimal Codes

A hexadecimal is a 6 digit representation of a color. The first two digits(RR) represent a red value, the next two are a green value(GG), and the last are the blue value(BB).

A hexadecimal value can be taken from any graphics software like Adobe Photoshop, Jasc Paintshop Pro, or even using Advanced Paint Brush.

Each hexadecimal code will be preceded by a pound or hash sign '#'. Following are the examples of hexadecimal notation.

Note: To specify the hexadecimal codes, you can use upper case or lower case letters.

Color Color Hexadecimal Code
  #000000
  #FF0000
  #00FF00
  #0000FF
  #FFFF00
  #00FFFF
  #FF00FF
  #C0C0C0
  #FFFFFF

Here is an example:

<html>
<head>
<style>
   #hexcode {
      background-color: #00ff00;
      padding: 10px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h3>Hexadecimal code - example</h3>
      <p>As the hexadecimal code is #00ff00 the background will appear green.</p>
      <div id="hexcode">
         This div element has a green background.
      </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS Colors - Short Hexadecimal Codes

This is a shorter form of the six-digit notation. In this format, each digit is replicated to arrive at an equivalent six-digit value. For example: #6A7 becomes #66AA77.

A hexadecimal value can be taken from any graphics software like Adobe Photoshop, Jasc Paintshop Pro, or even using Advanced Paint Brush.

Each short hexadecimal code will be preceded by a pound or hash sign '#'. Following are the examples of short hexadecimal notation.

Note: To specify the hexadecimal codes, you can use upper case or lower case letters.

Color Short Hexadecimal Code
  #000
  #F00
  #0F0
  #0FF
  #FF0
  #0FF
  #F0F
  #FFF

Here is an example:

<html>
<head>
<style>
   #shorthex {
      background-color: #00f;
      padding: 10px;
   }
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h3>Short Hexadecimal code - example</h3>
      <p>As the short hexadecimal code is #00f the background will appear blue.</p>
      <div id="shorthex">
         This div element has a blue background.
      </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS Colors - RGB Values

  • This color value is specified using the rgb( ) property.

  • It takes three values, one each for red, green, and blue.

  • The value can be an integer between 0 and 255 or a percentage.

NOTE: All the browsers does not support rgb() property of color so it is recommended not to use it.

Following is the example to show few colors using RGB values.

Color Color RGB
  rgb(0,0,0)
  rgb(255,0,0)
  rgb(0,255,0)
  rgb(0,0,255)
  rgb(255,255,0)
  rgb(0,255,255)
  rgb(255,0,255)
  rgb(192,192,192)
  rgb(255,255,255)

Here is an example:

<html>
<head>
<style>
   #rgbvalue {
      background-color: rgb(255,0,255);
      padding: 10px;
   }
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h3>RGB - example</h3>
   <p>As the rgb(255,0,255) is set the background will appear accordingly.</p>
   <div id="rgbvalue">
      This div element has a colored background based on the rgb values.
   </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS Colors - RGBA Values

  • This color value is specified using the rgba( ) property.

  • It takes four values, one each for red, green, and blue and the last value as the alpha (transparency) value.

  • The alpha value can be any value between 0 and 1.

NOTE: All the browsers do not support rgba() property of color so it is not recommended.

Following is the example to show few colors using RGBA values.

Color Color RGBA
  rgba(0,0,0,0)
  rgba(255,0,0,0.2)
  rgba(0,255,0,0.3)
  rgba(0,0,255,0.5)
  rgba(255,255,0,0.7)
  rgba(0,255,255,0.1)
  rgba(255,0,255,1)
  rgba(192,192,192,0.4)
  rgba(255,255,255,1)

Here is an example:

<html>
<head>
<style>
   #rgbavalue {
      background-color: rgba(255,0,255,0.2);
      padding: 10px;
   }
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h3>RGBA - example</h3>
   <p>As the rgba(255,0,255,0.2) is set the background will appear with transparency value of 0.2.</p>
   <div id="rgbavalue">
      This div element has a colored background based on the rgba values.
   </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS Colors - HSL Values

  • This color value is specified using the hsl() function.

  • HSL stands for hue, saturation and lightness.

  • Hue is represented in degrees (0-360), saturation and lightness are represented as percentages (0% - 100%).

Following is the example to show few colors using HSL property.

Color Color HSL
  hsl(0,0%,50%)
  hsl(255,80%,70%)
  hsl(290,100%,60%)
  hsl(360,70%,20%)
  hsl(89,80%,67%)

Here is an example:

<html>
<head>
<style>
   #hslvalue {
      background-color: hsl(355,70%,50%);
      padding: 10px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h3>HSL - example</h3>
   <p>As the hsl(355,70%,50%) is set the background will appear based on the hsl values passed.</p>
   <div id="hslvalue">
      This div element has a colored background based on the hsl values hsl(355,70%,50%).
   </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS Colors - HSLA Values

  • This color value is specified using the hsl() function.

  • HSLA stands for hue, saturation, lightness and alpha.

  • It takes four values, first for hue, second for saturation, third for lightness and fourth is the alpha (transparency) value.

  • Hue is represented in degrees (0-360), saturation and lightness are represented as percentages (0% - 100%), and alpha value can be in between 0 and 1.

Following is the example to show few colors using HSLA property.

Color Color HSLA
  hsla(0,0%,50%,0.5)
  hsla(255,80%,70%,1)
  hsla(290,100%,60%,0.2)
  hsla(360,70%,20%,0.4)
  hsla(89,80%,67%,0.9)

Here is an example:

<html>
<head>
<style>
   #hslavalue {
      background-color: hsla(355,70%,50%,0.4);
      padding: 10px;
   }
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h3>HSLA - example</h3>
   <p>As the hsla(355,70%,50%,0.4) is set the background will appear based on the hsla values passed, with high transparency.</p>
   <div id="hslavalue">
      This div element has a colored background based on the hsl values hsla(355,70%,50%,0.4).
   </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS Colors - currentcolor keyword

The currentcolor keyword signifies the value of the color property of an element. It can be passed to any other styling property using the keyword currentcolor.

Here is an example:

<html>
<head>
<style>
   #currcolor {
      color: red;
      border: 5px solid currentcolor;
   }
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h2>The currentcolor Keyword</h2>
   <p>As the currentcolor keyword is used for border after color property is set as red, the border will also appear red.</p>
   <div id="currcolor">
      This div element has a red text color and a red border.
   </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS Colors - Building Color Codes

You can build millions of color codes using our Color Code Builder. Check the HTML Color Code Builder.

To use this tool, you would need a Java Enabled Browser.

CSS Colors - Browser Safe Colors

Here is the list of 216 colors which are supposed to be most safe and computer independent colors. These colors vary from hexa code 000000 to FFFFFF. These colors are safe to use because they ensure that all computers would display the colors correctly when running a 256 color palette −

000000 000033 000066 000099 0000CC 0000FF
003300 003333 003366 003399 0033CC 0033FF
006600 006633 006666 006699 0066CC 0066FF
009900 009933 009966 009999 0099CC 0099FF
00CC00 00CC33 00CC66 00CC99 00CCCC 00CCFF
00FF00 00FF33 00FF66 00FF99 00FFCC 00FFFF
330000 330033 330066 330099 3300CC 3300FF
333300 333333 333366 333399 3333CC 3333FF
336600 336633 336666 336699 3366CC 3366FF
339900 339933 339966 339999 3399CC 3399FF
33CC00 33CC33 33CC66 33CC99 33CCCC 33CCFF
33FF00 33FF33 33FF66 33FF99 33FFCC 33FFFF
660000 660033 660066 660099 6600CC 6600FF
663300 663333 663366 663399 6633CC 6633FF
666600 666633 666666 666699 6666CC 6666FF
669900 669933 669966 669999 6699CC 6699FF
66CC00 66CC33 66CC66 66CC99 66CCCC 66CCFF
66FF00 66FF33 66FF66 66FF99 66FFCC 66FFFF
990000 990033 990066 990099 9900CC 9900FF
993300 993333 993366 993399 9933CC 9933FF
996600 996633 996666 996699 9966CC 9966FF
999900 999933 999966 999999 9999CC 9999FF
99CC00 99CC33 99CC66 99CC99 99CCCC 99CCFF
99FF00 99FF33 99FF66 99FF99 99FFCC 99FFFF
CC0000 CC0033 CC0066 CC0099 CC00CC CC00FF
CC3300 CC3333 CC3366 CC3399 CC33CC CC33FF
CC6600 CC6633 CC6666 CC6699 CC66CC CC66FF
CC9900 CC9933 CC9966 CC9999 CC99CC CC99FF
CCCC00 CCCC33 CCCC66 CCCC99 CCCCCC CCCCFF
CCFF00 CCFF33 CCFF66 CCFF99 CCFFCC CCFFFF
FF0000 FF0033 FF0066 FF0099 FF00CC FF00FF
FF3300 FF3333 FF3366 FF3399 FF33CC FF33FF
FF6600 FF6633 FF6666 FF6699 FF66CC FF66FF
FF9900 FF9933 FF9966 FF9999 FF99CC FF99FF
FFCC00 FFCC33 FFCC66 FFCC99 FFCCCC FFCCFF
FFFF00 FFFF33 FFFF66 FFFF99 FFFFCC FFFFFF

CSS Colors - Related Properties

All the properties related to color are listed in the table below:

Property Description
opacity Sets the transparency level of an element.
hue Represents the hue angle of an element.
color Sets the foreground of an element's text and text decoration.
background-color Sets the color of the background.
border-color Sets the color of the border of an element.
box-shadow Adds a shadow effect around an element.
outline-color Sets the color of the outline around an element.
text-shadow Adds shadow to the text of an element.
Print Page
Previous
Next
Advertisements