Color Format Converter — Convert HEX, RGB, HSL, and More
Understanding the Basics
Color in digital interfaces is represented in multiple mathematical models, each optimized for different use cases. HEX (hexadecimal) is the most familiar to web developers: #FF5733 represents 255 red, 87 green, 51 blue as two-digit hex pairs for each channel. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) uses decimal values 0–255 for each channel — the additive primary colors of light used by displays. HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) uses angles (0–360°) for hue (the color family: 0°=red, 120°=green, 240°=blue) and percentages for saturation (colorfulness) and lightness (brightness) — a model much more intuitive for designers who think in terms of "make this 20% lighter" or "reduce the saturation by half." HSB/HSV (Hue, Saturation, Brightness/Value) is similar to HSL but uses value (0–100%) instead of lightness, and is the model used by most design tools (Adobe Photoshop, Figma, Sketch). CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is the subtractive model for print color and is rarely used in web development. CSS Color Level 4 introduced oklch() and oklab() — perceptually uniform color spaces where equal numeric differences produce equal perceived color differences, making them superior for color interpolation in gradients and design systems.
How to Use the Tool
- Click the color swatch or use the color picker to visually select a color, or type a color value in any supported format.
- The tool instantly shows all equivalent representations: HEX, RGB, RGBA, HSL, HSLA, HSB/HSV, and named CSS color if applicable.
- Copy any format's value to clipboard with the copy icon beside each representation.
- Adjust the alpha channel (opacity) slider to generate semi-transparent color values (RGBA, HSLA).
- Use the saved palette feature to keep a collection of colors for quick comparison and reference.
Key Features & Specifications
- Converts between HEX, RGB, RGBA, HSL, HSLA, HSB/HSV, and CMYK color models
- Color picker for visual selection without needing to type numeric values
- Detects named CSS colors (red, blue, cornflowerblue, rebeccapurple) from their hex equivalents
- Alpha channel support: generates RGBA and HSLA values with opacity control
- Color palette saver: bookmark frequently used colors for comparison
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q:When should I use HSL over HEX in my CSS?
- HSL is superior for design systems where you need programmatic color manipulation: generating shades (decrease lightness for darker), tints (increase lightness for lighter), complementary colors (rotate hue by 180°), and accessible contrast variants. CSS custom properties with HSL components allow mathematical manipulation: hsl(var(--hue), 60%, calc(var(--lightness) - 20%)).
- Q:What is the difference between HSL and HSB/HSV?
- Both use Hue (0–360°) and Saturation (0–100%), but the third channel differs: HSL uses Lightness where 0% is black and 100% is white (pure colors appear at 50%). HSB/HSV uses Brightness/Value where 0% is black and 100% is the full pure color (white is 0% saturation at 100% brightness). Design tools like Photoshop use HSB; CSS uses HSL.
- Q:What are oklch and oklab, and when should I use them?
- oklch (Lightness, Chroma, Hue in Oklab color space) is a CSS Color Level 4 model designed to be perceptually uniform: equal numeric differences produce equal perceived differences across all hues and lightness levels. This makes it ideal for generating accessible color palettes where contrast ratios are predictable without trial and error. It is supported in modern browsers (Chrome 111+, Firefox 113+, Safari 15.4+).