CSS Variable Extractor
Paste any CSS and instantly extract all --custom-property declarations.
View values, color swatches, and copy in multiple formats.
Input CSS
Auto-extracts as you type
0 chars
Extracted variables will appear here
🎨 Color Swatches
Hex, RGB, HSL, RGBA, HSLA, and common named colors automatically get a visual preview swatch.
📦 Copy Formats
Copy individual names, values, or full declarations. Or copy everything as a :root {} block or JSON object.
🔍 Filter & Search
Search extracted variables by name or value to quickly find what you need in large design token files.
CSS Variable Extractor — extract custom properties from any CSS
What Is a CSS Variable Extractor?
A CSS variable extractor is a tool that scans any CSS stylesheet and pulls out every --custom-property declaration in one click.
CSS custom properties (also called CSS variables) are defined with a double-dash prefix (e.g. --primary-color: #3b82f6)
and can be referenced anywhere in your stylesheet with var(--primary-color).
This tool parses raw CSS text client-side — nothing is sent to a server — and presents every variable with its value,
a color swatch for color values, and convenient copy buttons. It supports :root blocks,
scoped selectors, media queries, and any other CSS context where variables are declared.
Whether you are auditing a design system, migrating a codebase to CSS variables, or reverse-engineering a third-party stylesheet, this extractor gives you a clean, searchable inventory of every token in seconds.
How to Extract CSS Variables Online
- 1 Paste your CSS — copy any stylesheet, component CSS, or design token file and paste it into the Input CSS panel. You can also click Load Sample to try it instantly.
- 2 Review extracted variables — all
--variable-name: valuepairs appear instantly in the results panel with color swatches for hex, RGB, HSL, and named colors. - 3 Filter if needed — use the search box to narrow down large lists by variable name or value (e.g. type color to show only color-related tokens).
- 4 Copy what you need — click the copy icon next to any individual name, value, or full declaration. Or use Copy :root to get all variables wrapped in a
:root {}block, or Copy JSON to export as a key-value object.
Common Use Cases
Design Token Audits
Extract every token from a design system's CSS to create a living inventory. Identify duplicates, inconsistencies, or missing values across themes.
Theme Migration
Moving from hard-coded colors to CSS variables? Extract existing variable sets from a reference stylesheet and use the JSON output to seed your new token system.
Third-Party Stylesheet Analysis
Quickly understand which custom properties a UI library exposes for theming — copy the :root block and override only the variables you need.
CSS-to-JavaScript Sync
Copy the JSON export to keep your JavaScript theme objects in sync with your CSS variables — useful for Tailwind config, Storybook, or any JS-driven design system.
Code Review Support
Paste a PR's CSS diff to see at a glance which variables were added, changed, or removed — much faster than reading raw text.
Dark Mode Preparation
Extract light-theme variables and use them as a starting template for your [data-theme="dark"] overrides without manual copy-paste errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are CSS custom properties (CSS variables)?
CSS custom properties are values defined by CSS authors using a name that starts with two dashes, like --primary-color: #3b82f6. They can be reused anywhere in the stylesheet with var(--primary-color) and are natively supported by all modern browsers. They are also called CSS variables or CSS tokens.
Does this tool send my CSS to a server?
No. All extraction happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your CSS is never uploaded or stored anywhere. This makes the tool safe to use with proprietary or confidential stylesheets.
Which color formats are detected as colors?
The tool recognizes hex (#fff, #3b82f6), RGB and RGBA, HSL and HSLA, and a set of common named colors (red, blue, transparent, etc.). Variables with these values get a visual color swatch in the results list.
Can I extract variables from minified CSS?
Yes. The extractor uses a regex that does not rely on whitespace or newlines, so it works equally well with minified, compressed, or formatted CSS. Paste any valid CSS string and all --variable declarations will be found.
What does "Copy :root" do?
It copies all extracted variables wrapped in a :root {} block to your clipboard — ready to paste directly into a new stylesheet or design token file. This is useful when you want a clean, consolidated token sheet from a scattered codebase.
What does "Copy JSON" produce?
It exports all variables as a JSON object where each key is the variable name and the value is the CSS value string — for example "--primary-color": "#3b82f6". This format is ideal for seeding JavaScript theme objects, Tailwind config files, or Storybook design token maps.
Does it handle variables declared inside media queries or nested selectors?
Yes. The extractor scans the entire CSS string regardless of selector or at-rule context. Variables declared inside @media, .dark-theme, or any other block are all extracted and listed. If the same variable appears with different values in different contexts, each unique name+value pair is listed separately.