Understanding Color Formats
Colors on the web can be represented in several formats. Each has its advantages depending on the use case.
HEX Colors
HEX (hexadecimal) colors use a 6-digit code preceded by a hash sign (#). Each pair of digits represents the red, green, and blue components. For example, #FF0000 is pure red, and #000000 is black. HEX is the most commonly used format in CSS and web design.
RGB Colors
RGB represents colors as a combination of red, green, and blue channels, each ranging from 0 to 255. The format is rgb(red, green, blue). RGB is intuitive for mixing light-based colors and is widely used in CSS.
HSL Colors
HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. Hue is the angle on the color wheel (0-360), saturation is the intensity (0-100%), and lightness determines how light or dark the color is (0-100%). HSL is often more intuitive for creating color variations and palettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose good color combinations?
Consider using complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel), analogous colors (adjacent on the wheel), or triadic colors (evenly spaced). The palette feature shows color variations to help you build harmonious color schemes.
What is color accessibility?
Color accessibility ensures that content is readable by people with color vision deficiencies. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.