Color Theory for Developers: HEX, RGB, and HSL

December 27, 2025

Colors in web development can be represented in multiple formats. Understanding each helps you make better design decisions.

Color Formats Explained

  • HEX: #RRGGBB - Most common in CSS
  • RGB: rgb(255, 0, 0) - Good for programmatic manipulation
  • HSL: hsl(0, 100%, 50%) - Intuitive for humans

When to Use Each

Use HEX for static colors, RGB for opacity (RGBA), and HSL when you need to programmatically adjust brightness or saturation.

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