What is the hex code? All you need to know

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Working with colors in HTML is relatively easy. With some simple CSS ads, you can change the color of any text or background on your web page. But how do you determine the color? Answering this question will lead us down a rabbit hole that eventually leads us to the concept of hexadecimal color codes.

If you’ve worked with HTML or CSS before, you’ve likely heard the term hex code. But what exactly is a hexadecimal symbol? What are some examples of hexadecimal codes? What is the difference between hex code and RGB color code?


What is a hex code?

When you first start working with color, you can use a graphical interface to choose colors to apply to the elements on your page. When you start looking at the core code rather than just your graphic editor, you’ll find that the colors appear as strange-looking sequences of characters. These sequences are known as hexagrams; They look like this:

#FF0092

Related Topics: Basic Graphic Design Terms You Need to Know

You can define colors in CSS in many different ways. You can use the names of some predefined colors like red And the Dark Magenta. To accurately determine shades of color, you will need to use a more accurate measurement: something digital.

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CSS offers two main options: RGB and hex. In both formats, you can specify the amounts of red, green, and blue that make up the final color. RGB uses three digits between 0 and 255. Hex does exactly the same thing, only with a different base (16) than the decimal number (10) you’re used to.

Hex uses the letters AF, as well as the numbers 0 through 9, for a total of 16 characters. A in hex is equivalent to 10 in decimal. F in hexadecimal is equal to 15 in decimal.

How do hex color codes work?


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In its simplest form, the hex code is a representation of the amount of red, green, and blue. The hexadecimal code consists of six characters. The first two numbers relate to the amount of red in the mix, the next two numbers relate to the amount of green, and the last two numbers reflect the amount of blue. Hex icons indicate specific colors, allowing designers and developers to easily communicate about color schemes.


With 16 x 16 (256) values ​​for each color component, there are then 256 x 256 x 256 possible combinations. In hexadecimal, they range from #000000 (pure black) to #FFFFFF (pure white).

How to read hex color codes

Hex color codes are easy to understand. Let’s take the example of #FF5733. First, divide the six letters into three parts, each containing two letters. As you know, the first two parts represent red, the second two parts represent green, and the third two parts represent blue. So, in our example:

  • The red component RR has the value FF.
  • The green component, GG, is 57.
  • The blue component, BB, is 33.

Now, to find the intensity of these color segments, you need to calculate the hexadecimal number using the following three steps:

  1. Multiply the first hexadecimal character of RR by 16. If the character is a letter, convert it to its corresponding value. In this case, the first letter is F which is 15. So for our example you multiply 15 x 16 which equals 240.
  2. Next, add the second letter of RR. Again, convert the character to its corresponding value, if needed. In our example, the second letter is F equals 15.
  3. Once done, add the totals to get a single value. If you add 240 and 15 from our example, you will see that the value of FF is 255.

Repeat the same formula for the remaining two bits, GG with code 57 and BB with code 33. If manual calculations seem too confusing, you can always use a hex to RGB converter tool (like BinaryHex Converter) to read the color. You should find that the hex value # FF5733 equivalent to RGB (255, 87, 51).


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While there are many different color models (RGB, CMYK, HSL), hex color codes are perhaps the most commonly used representation. This is because it is simple and easy to understand.

Fixed display format is also very useful. Full-length hexadecimal colors are always seven characters long, including the leading characters # Code.

Hex colors are very effective, as only these seven letters are used to represent more than 16 million colors. Differentiating these colors is a straightforward process.

Hex vs RGB: Is there a difference?

The RGB system of color coding uses three decimal digits to indicate the relative intensity of red, green, and blue. Uses the numbers 0 through 9.

Hex also uses three numbers to represent red, green, and blue, but uses additional (AF) numbers to meet base 16 needs. There is no difference in the resulting colors, they are simply different formats to communicate the same information.

Related Topics: CSS Fundamentals: Working with Colors

What is the hexadecimal code used for?

RGB is used by a variety of different applications, from TV screens to mobile devices, games, and signage. You will mainly see hex color codes in web design and other graphics software.

You may also see hex symbols as a universal way of identifying colors. Many websites use them to identify a specific color because they are short and usually unambiguous in their context.

Hexagon color code is not rocket science

So you have the basics of hex color codes. They’re not exactly a hard science, but they do serve a specific purpose in design (and in the tech world). If you are looking for a tool that will help you understand how hex colors work, or a tool that will teach you RGB blend theory, there is plenty on the Internet. Remember that the key to learning anything new is to take it one step at a time.

Hex color codes aren’t the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s essential to understand them if you’re into web design. Being able to work with hex color codes will make your design work a lot easier.


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