Understanding Color Formats
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness): A color model that defines colors based on their hue (color type), saturation (intensity), and lightness (brightness). Example: hsl(0, 100%, 50%) for red.
HEX (Hexadecimal): A six-digit color code preceded by a hashtag (#), representing colors using a combination of 16 hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F). Example: #FF0000 for red.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue): A color model that uses varying intensities of red, green, and blue light to create colors, each represented on a scale from 0 to 255. Example: rgb(255, 0, 0) for red.
HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value): Similar to HSL but uses value (brightness) instead of lightness. Often preferred by designers for its intuitive color selection. Example: hsv(0, 100%, 100%) for red.
OKLCH (Perceptual Lightness, Chroma, Hue): A perceptually uniform color space that represents colors using lightness, chroma (colorfulness), and hue. Provides better color consistency across different displays. Example: oklch(50% 0.15 30) for a muted orange.
How to Use This HSL Color Converter
- Adjust the Hue (H) slider or input a value between 0 and 360
- Set the Saturation (S) between 0% and 100%
- Adjust the Lightness (L) between 0% and 100%
- The color preview will update in real-time
- Click "Convert" to see the color in all available formats
- Use the copy buttons to easily copy any color format to your clipboard
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the difference between HSL and HSV?
A: While both use hue and saturation, HSL uses lightness (which balances between black and white), while HSV uses value (which goes from black to the color). HSV is often preferred by designers for picking colors as it can feel more intuitive.
Q: Why use OKLCH?
A: OKLCH is a modern color format that provides better perceptual uniformity, meaning colors appear more consistent across different displays and lighting conditions. It's particularly useful for creating accessible color schemes and maintaining visual consistency.
Q: How accurate are the color conversions?
A: The conversions between HSL, RGB, HEX, and HSV are mathematically precise. The OKLCH conversion is an approximation that provides good results for most use cases, though for production use you might want to use a dedicated color library for more accurate OKLCH values.
Q: Which format should I use in my projects?
A: Each format has its strengths: HSL is intuitive for adjusting colors, HEX is widely supported and compact, RGB is fundamental for digital displays, HSV is great for color picking interfaces, and OKLCH is excellent for modern designs requiring consistent colors across devices.
Q: Can I use these color formats in CSS?
A: Yes! All these formats are supported in modern CSS. HEX and RGB have been supported for a long time, HSL is widely supported, and OKLCH is supported in modern browsers (with fallbacks recommended for older browsers).