color
=====

The **`color`** CSS property sets the foreground color value of an element's text and text decorations, and sets the `currentcolor` value. `currentcolor` may be used as an indirect value on *other* properties and is the default for other color properties, such as `border-color`.

Try it
------

For an overview of using color in HTML, see Applying color to HTML elements using CSS.

Syntax
------


```css
/\* Keyword values \*/
color: currentcolor;

/\* <named-color> values \*/
color: red;
color: orange;
color: tan;
color: rebeccapurple;

/\* <hex-color> values \*/
color: #090;
color: #009900;
color: #090a;
color: #009900aa;

/\* <rgb()> values and legacy <rgba()> values\*/
color: rgb(34, 12, 64, 0.6);
color: rgba(34, 12, 64, 0.6);
color: rgb(34 12 64 / 0.6);
color: rgba(34 12 64 / 0.6);
color: rgb(34.6 12 64 / 60%);
color: rgba(34.6 12 64 / 60%);

/\* <hsl()> values and legacy <hsla()> values \*/
color: hsl(30, 100%, 50%, 0.6);
color: hsla(30, 100%, 50%, 0.6);
color: hsl(30 100% 50% / 0.6);
color: hsla(30 100% 50% / 0.6);
color: hsl(30.2 100% 50% / 60%);
color: hsla(30.2 100% 50% / 60%);

/\* <hwb()> values \*/
color: hwb(90 10% 10%);
color: hwb(90 10% 10% / 0.5);
color: hwb(90deg 10% 10%);
color: hwb(1.5708rad 60% 0%);
color: hwb(0.25turn 0% 40% / 50%);

/\* Global values \*/
color: inherit;
color: initial;
color: revert;
color: revert-layer;
color: unset;
```


The `color` property is specified as a single `<color>` value.

Note that the value must be a uniform `color`. It can't be a `<gradient>`, which is actually a type of `<image>`.

### Values

`<color>`

Sets the color of the textual and decorative parts of the element.

`currentcolor`

Sets the color to the element's `color` property value. However, if set as the value of `color`, `currentcolor` is treated as `inherit`.

Accessibility concerns
----------------------

It is important to ensure that the contrast ratio between the color of the text and the background the text is placed over is high enough that people experiencing low vision conditions will be able to read the content of the page.

Color contrast ratio is determined by comparing the luminosity of the text and background color values. In order to meet current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a ratio of 4.5:1 is required for text content and 3:1 for larger text such as headings. Large text is defined as 18.66px and bold or larger, or 24px or larger.

* WebAIM: Color Contrast Checker
* MDN Understanding WCAG, Guideline 1.4 explanations
* Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.3 | W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0
Formal definition
-----------------

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Initial value | `canvastext` |
| Applies to | all elements and text. It also applies to `::first-letter` and `::first-line`. |
| Inherited | yes |
| Computed value | computed color |
| Animation type | by computed value type |

Formal syntax
-------------
```

color =   
  <color>    
  
```

Examples
--------

### Making text red

The following are all ways to make a paragraph's text red:


```css
p {
  color: red;
}
p {
  color: #f00;
}
p {
  color: #ff0000;
}
p {
  color: rgb(255 0 0);
}
p {
  color: rgb(100% 0% 0%);
}
p {
  color: hsl(0 100% 50%);
}

/\* 50% translucent \*/
p {
  color: #ff000080;
}
p {
  color: rgb(255 0 0 / 50%);
}
p {
  color: hsl(0 100% 50% / 50%);
}
```

Specifications
--------------

| Specification |
| --- |
| CSS Color Module Level 4 # the-color-property |

Browser compatibility
---------------------

BCD tables only load in the browser with JavaScript enabled. Enable JavaScript to view data.

See also
--------

* The `<color>` data type
* Other color-related properties: `background-color`, `border-color`, `outline-color`, `text-decoration-color`, `text-emphasis-color`, `text-shadow`, `caret-color`, `column-rule-color`, and `print-color-adjust`
* Applying color to HTML elements using CSS