Black is a very common color used in design, fashion, and art. It’s also one of the most versatile colors that can be used in different contexts. When working digitally, black is typically represented using hex color codes. So what exactly is the hex code for the color black?
In HTML and CSS, colors can be specified using predefined color names such as “black”, RGB values, HSL values, and hex codes. Out of these, hex codes are the most popularly used way to represent colors digitally.
Hex codes are 6 digit codes that represent the RGB composition of a color. They always start with a hashtag # and then have 6 hexadecimal digits ranging from 0 to F which represent the red, green and blue values on a scale of 00 to FF.
Hex Codes Explained
Hex codes use the hexadecimal system, which has 16 digits ranging from 0 to F. These represent values 0 to 15 in decimal. So F in hexadecimal represents the value 15 in decimal.
Some examples:
0 = 0
A = 10
F = 15
In hex codes, the first two digits represent the RED value, the next two are GREEN value and last two are the BLUE value.
Each of these values range from 00 to FF representing the decimal values 0 to 255. By mixing different levels of red, green and blue we can get any color.
For example, #000000 is pure black. It has no red, green or blue.
#FFFFFF is pure white with full red, green and blue values.
Black Hex Codes
So what hex code represents the color black? There are actually a few different hex values that are used to represent shades of black.
The main hex code for black is #000000 – This represents an RGB value of R:0, G:0, B:0 – no traces of any color. This is the true black with no lightness.
Some other common black hex codes are:
| Hex Code | RGB Values | Color Name |
|---|---|---|
| #0C0C0C | R: 12, G: 12, B: 12 | 90% Black |
| #1A1A1A | R: 26, G: 26, B: 26 | 85% Black |
| #282828 | R: 40, G: 40, B: 40 | 80% Black |
| #363636 | R: 54, G: 54, B: 54 | 75% Black |
| #444444 | R: 68, G: 68, B: 68 | 70% Black |
| #525252 | R: 82, G: 82, B: 82 | 65% Black |
As you can see, by adding small amounts of RGB color, different darker shades of black can be constructed.
These color codes are useful when you need a solid black color but with very slight variation for contrast against full black. The higher the RGB values, the lighter the black appears.
Black as a Web Color
In websites, using pure black #000000 text on a white #FFFFFF background can create too harsh a contrast and affect readability.
So for body text, slightly lighter shades of black are often used. The most popular web black is #333333 which is about 75% darkness.
For paragraph text, shades like #444444 and #555555 are commonly used to make black text easier to read over long stretches.
Pure black #000000 is best used for titles, headlines and accent elements like buttons or logos.
Black in Design Systems
In material design, which is popular in Android and modern websites, black has a whole system of shades defined.
The main blacks used in material design are:
| Hex Code | Name |
|---|---|
| #000000 | Black |
| #121212 | On primary |
| #1F1F1F | Primary text |
| #242424 | Secondary text |
| #2E2E2E | Icons |
| #3D3D3D | Disabled / hint text |
| #444444 | Dividers |
As you can see, material design has both pure blacks and darkened blacks defined for different contexts.
Using black shades helps create visual hierarchy, direct attention and improves aesthetics.
Accessibility Considerations
While black text on white background is commonly used for web design, for some users this can cause accessibility issues.
Those with visual impairments like light sensitivity, poor eyesight or color blindness can have a hard time with stark black on white contrast.
Some ways to make your black text more accessible:
– Use dark gray shades instead of full black for body text
– Make sure textcontrast ratio between text and background is at least 4.5:1
– Allow users to switch between dark mode and light mode
– Avoid using only color to convey information
With some considerations, black text can be made accessible to all readers.
Black Text on Screens
Black text looks significantly different on backlit screens like phones and monitors compared to print.
On screens, black pixels are turned off, allowing light to pass through. This makes on-screen black text appear lighter and low-contrast compared to black ink on paper.
To compensate, darker shades like very dark gray (#111111) or charcoal (#474747) are better for readability of black text on digital screens.
Pure black #000000 can overwhelm on overly bright screens. Using slightly lighter versions helps reinforce visual hierarchy without sacrificing legibility.
Conclusion
The main hex code for the color black is #000000. This represents an RGB value of 0,0,0 – no traces of any color.
Other common shades of black include #333333 and #454545 which are dark grays used for text.
Black shades are created by adding small amounts of RGB color to #000000 pure black. Darker blacks provide depth, contrast and draw attention.
For accessibility, use dark gray instead of pure black text. Allow light/dark mode switching. On digital screens, darker blacks improve readability.
Understanding different black hex codes and shades allows you to apply this versatile color more effectively.