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Try accessibility, print, color spaces, CSS, data visualization, or color management to narrow the glossary by workflow.
Color terminology
Search a practical color glossary.
Search categorized definitions for color fundamentals, CSS syntax, color spaces, accessibility, palette theory, color science, color management, print, and production handoff terms. Hue Codex supports exact terms, categories, common aliases, and copy-ready filtered exports for design-system notes, QA comments, and team documentation.
Free color utility
Glossary
Inputs update live, exports are copy-ready, and the color math stays deterministic.
Reference
Color terms
Instructions
- Search for a color term, format, accessibility phrase, CSS concept, or workflow keyword.
- Use the result count to see how many glossary entries match the current search.
- Review matching entries for concise definitions and practical color-work context.
- Copy the filtered glossary entries for documentation, team notes, or design-system references.
How it fits
Keep color language consistent.
The glossary gives teams a searchable vocabulary for CSS, accessibility, color science, palette, print, and production conversations.
Categorized terms
Browse practical definitions across fundamentals, CSS, accessibility, color spaces, color management, print, and data visualization.
Alias-aware search
Find terms by common names such as CSS variable, dE2000, green-blind, screen proof, or ICC.
Copy-ready reference
Export filtered entries for design-system docs, QA comments, handoff notes, and internal glossary drafts.
Quick overview
Hue Codex Color Glossary is a free searchable reference for practical color terminology across CSS color syntax, accessibility, color spaces, color science, palette theory, color management, print, and production workflows. It supports term, category, alias, and definition search, then exports the filtered entries in a copy-ready format.
- Search by exact term, category, or common alias, such as ICC, green-blind, CSS variable, gamut clipping, or Delta E 2000.
- The glossary covers both everyday design language and technical production terms, including OKLCH, Lab, relative luminance, rendering intent, and total ink coverage.
- Definitions are concise and practical, so they can support design-system notes, QA comments, brand documentation, and handoff conversations.
- Filtered entries can be copied from the export panel as category-labeled glossary lines.
- Formal standards and production specs remain the authority for conformance details, but the glossary gives teams a shared working vocabulary for practical color work.
What the Hue Codex color glossary does
The Hue Codex color glossary is a searchable reference for the color terms designers, reviewers, brand teams, and production partners use when working on color systems.
Each entry includes a term, category, aliases used for search, and a concise practical definition. Search results update as you type, and the export panel returns the currently filtered entries in a copy-ready text format.
Color glossary definition
A color glossary is a reference list of color-related terms and definitions, usually covering color models, color spaces, accessibility, palette theory, production workflows, and practical use language.
What the color glossary covers
The glossary is organized around the vocabulary that usually appears in color-system work: fundamentals like hue and chroma, CSS syntax such as color-mix() and relative color syntax, accessibility terms such as contrast ratio and focus indicator, and production terms such as ICC profile, gamut mapping, soft proof, and total ink coverage.
It is intentionally broader than a CSS-only glossary because practical color decisions move across design tools, browser support, accessibility review, image editing, brand handoff, print production, and data visualization.
| Area | Example terms | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals and palette theory | hue, chroma, tint, shade, analogous colors, triadic colors | Shared design language, palette review, and teaching color relationships. |
| CSS and web color | sRGB, Display P3, color(), color-mix(), currentColor, relative color syntax | Modern CSS use, browser color notation, and web handoff. |
| Accessibility | contrast ratio, relative luminance, WCAG AA, focus indicator, color vision deficiency | Readable UI colors, non-color cues, focus states, and color-vision checks. |
| Color science and management | Lab, OKLCH, Delta E 2000, white point, rendering intent, ICC profile | Perceptual comparison, conversion notes, proofing, and cross-device expectations. |
| Print and production | CMYK, spot color, rich black, dot gain, overprint, total ink coverage | Brand-to-print translation, prepress review, and production vocabulary. |
How to use the glossary search
Search accepts exact terms, categories, and common aliases. That means a search for CSS can surface web syntax, a search for green-blind can surface deuteranopia, and a search for profile can surface color-management terms such as ICC profile and color profile.
The copy panel exports the currently filtered entries with their categories, making it useful for internal documentation, QA notes, design-system glossaries, and quick explanations during handoff.
Search by alias
Use familiar phrases such as CSS variable, blue-blind, dE2000, screen proof, or wide color even when the formal term is different.
Copy filtered entries
Filter to the terms needed for a handoff note, then copy the export block instead of rewriting definitions manually.
Best uses for the color glossary
The glossary is most useful when color decisions need clear language. It helps teams avoid vague phrases, connect design and engineering terminology, and document color choices with consistent definitions.
Design-system documentation
Copy concise definitions for token notes, color foundations pages, naming guidelines, and team glossaries.
Accessibility review
Clarify terms such as contrast ratio, relative luminance, focus indicator, non-text contrast, and color vision deficiency.
Web handoff
Look up CSS color syntax, currentColor, custom properties, color-mix(), wide-gamut spaces, and related usage terms.
Production and print conversations
Align on terms such as ICC profile, rendering intent, soft proof, overprint, rich black, dot gain, and total ink coverage.
Reference boundaries
This page is intended as a practical glossary for Hue Codex readers: designers, accessibility reviewers, brand teams, and production partners who need a shared working vocabulary. It favors concise explanations over full mathematical derivations or formal conformance language.
Color standards continue to evolve, especially around modern CSS color and future accessibility contrast models. For browser conformance, legal accessibility claims, print contracts, and scientific measurement, pair these definitions with the relevant W3C, WCAG, CIE, ICC, printer, or platform documentation.
The glossary search should answer everyday terminology questions quickly, while formal specifications remain the final authority for exact requirements.
Quick answers
Glossary FAQ
What is the Hue Codex color glossary?
Hue Codex Color Glossary is a free searchable reference for color terminology across CSS, accessibility, color spaces, color science, palette theory, color management, print, and production workflows.
Is the Hue Codex color glossary only for CSS?
No. It includes CSS color syntax, but it also covers accessibility, color spaces, color science, color management, print, data visualization, palette theory, and production terminology.
How does glossary search work?
Search checks terms, categories, definitions, and common aliases. For example, an alias search such as CSS variable can surface CSS custom property, and green-blind can surface deuteranopia.
Does the glossary include accessibility color terms?
Yes. It includes contrast ratio, relative luminance, WCAG AA and AAA, non-text contrast, focus indicator, color vision deficiency, and common forms of color-vision difference.
Does the glossary include color science terms?
Yes. It includes terms such as Lab, LCH, OKLab, OKLCH, Delta E, chromatic adaptation, white point, gamut, color appearance model, and perceptual uniformity.
Does the glossary include print and production terms?
Yes. It includes terms such as CMYK, spot color, rich black, dot gain, overprint, soft proof, hard proof, rendering intent, ICC profile, and total ink coverage.
Can I use these definitions in design-system documentation?
Yes. The definitions are intentionally concise and practical, and the export panel lets you copy the currently filtered glossary entries with their categories.
Are all modern CSS color terms ready to use?
No. Some CSS Color 5 features are still emerging or unevenly supported, so browser support and fallback strategy should be checked before production use.