Colors HEX

What are HEX colors?

The HEX color code is a way of representing color using the hexadecimal numeral system. It consists of six characters (digits 0 to 9 and letters A to F) that indicate the intensity of red, green, and blue colors in different proportions. Each pair of symbols is responsible for one color: the first pair is for red, the second is for green, the third is for blue.

How does it work?

Each character in a HEX code can have a value between 0 and 15. The higher the value of the character, the greater the intensity of the corresponding color. For example, the HEX code #FF0000 means bright red because the first pair of characters (FF) has a maximum value for the color red, and the other pairs of characters (00) have a minimum value for green and blue.

#RRGGBB is what the HEX format looks like. For example, #FF5733:

• FF is red (maximum, 255).
• 57 is green (87 in decimal).
• 33 is blue (51 in decimal).

Where are HEX colors used?

HEX color code is widely used in web design, graphic design, and other areas where you need to specify a color accurately. Here are some examples:

• Web design: HEX code is used to specify the color of the text, background, borders, and other elements of a web page.
• Graphic design: HEX code is used to create color images, logos, and other graphic elements (e.g., in Photoshop, Illustrator).
• Programming: HEX code can be used to specify color in various applications, mobile applications, and games.

Advantages of HEX code

• Precision: The HEX code allows you to accurately set any color out of millions of possible shades.
• Compact: HEX code takes up less space than other ways of representing color, such as RGB or CMYK.
• Versatility: HEX code is supported by most color programs and tools.

Disadvantages of HEX code:

The HEX color code, although widely used and convenient, has its drawbacks:

• Small range for fine color tuning: HEX only uses the hexadecimal number system, which limits the number of possible options for each primary color (red, green, and blue). This can pose challenges when fine-tuning the color, especially for designers who need more flexibility. For example, if you need to render color more accurately than HEX allows, it can be tricky, compared to other systems, for example, RGB or HSL.
• Lack of brightness and saturation: HEX codes do not allow you to directly adjust parameters such as brightness or color saturation, as can be done in the HSL system (Hue, Saturation, Lightness). In HSL, you can only change saturation or lightness without changing the color itself, which may be more convenient in some cases.
• Inability to represent transparency: In standard HEX code, there is no way to represent transparency (alpha channel). This uses advanced formats, such as RGBA (RGB with an alpha channel), where a transparency value is added. However, in pure HEX, this cannot be done without extensions.
• Difficulty in perception: HEX code is difficult for a person to read and understand, especially without special knowledge. Unlike RGB, where each component (red, green, blue) is represented separately and clearly, HEX code needs to be converted from hexadecimal to decimal to understand the intensity of each color.
• Difficult to change colors by eye: Due to the complexity of the structure of the HEX code, it is difficult to imagine how the color will change when one or two characters are changed. For example, if you need to darken the color a little, it is not clear which characters and how much you need to change. This makes the HEX code less intuitive for quick color editing.
• Not suitable for some tasks: In some cases, such as when working with gradients or adjusting transparency, it is more convenient to use other formats such as RGB or HSL. HEX code does not always support these features or requires additional conversions.
• Printing errors: Sometimes when copying or transferring a HEX code, errors are possible due to its length and complexity. It is easy to accidentally change one character, resulting in a completely different color.
• Not always supported by older applications: Although HEX code is the standard, some older applications or tools may not support it, limiting its use in such cases.

Note: Despite these drawbacks, HEX code remains the most popular color representation format for website and web applications due to its compactness and versatility. However, it is important to understand its limitations and use other formats when appropriate.

How do you get a HEX color?

To get a HEX color, you can use a HEX calculator.

Hexadecimal Colors

Hexadecimal color values are also supported in all browsers.

A hexadecimal color is specified with: #RRGGBB.

RR (red), GG (green) and BB (blue) are hexadecimal integers between 00 and FF specifying the intensity of the color.

For example, #0000FF is displayed as blue, because the blue component is set to its highest value (FF) and the others are set to 00.

Try it Yourself

Hexadecimal color values are supported in all browsers.