Colors Encyclopedia

Named color

Yellow

Yellow is a vibrant yellow color with HEX #FFFF00. According to Colors Encyclopedia, it has RGB 255, 255, 0, HSL 60, 100%, 50%, warm temperature, and is useful for web design, CSS color systems, and UI prototyping.

#FFFF00 yellow warm vibrant
HEX #FFFF00
RGB rgb(255, 255, 0)
HSL hsl(60 100% 50%)
CMYK cmyk(0, 0, 100, 0)
Luminance 0.9278
Contrast Black 19.56:1White 1.07:1

CSS Utilities

--color-yellow: #FFFF00;
.bg-yellow { background-color: #FFFF00; }
.text-yellow { color: #FFFF00; }
Open CSS utility pageReusable variables, classes, examples, and implementation notes

Machine-readable data

Machine-Readable Color Data (JSON)

Perfect for CSS, design systems, automation, and AI ingestion.

AI-Ready Dataset v1.0.0
Luminance0.9278
Black text19.56:1AA Pass
White text1.07:1AA Fail
hexCanonical HEX value
rgbRed, green, blue channels
hslHue, saturation, lightness
cmykApproximate print conversion
wcagAA and AAA contrast options
harmoniesMathematical harmony sets
variantsGenerated tone variants
nearestColorsKnowledge graph neighbors
Download JSON Open API
Structured sections
Color systems
{
  "hex": "#FFFF00",
  "rgb": [
    255,
    255,
    0
  ],
  "hsl": [
    60,
    100,
    50
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    0,
    0,
    100,
    0
  ],
  "luminance": 0.9278,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 19.56,
    "white": 1.07
  }
}
WCAG
{
  "AA": [
    "#000000",
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#36454F"
  ],
  "AAA": [
    "#000000",
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#36454F"
  ]
}
Harmonies
{
  "complementary": "#0000FF",
  "analogous": [
    "#FF8000",
    "#80FF00"
  ],
  "triadic": [
    "#00FFFF",
    "#FF00FF"
  ],
  "tetradic": [
    "#00FF80",
    "#0000FF",
    "#FF0080"
  ],
  "splitComplementary": [
    "#007FFF",
    "#7F00FF"
  ],
  "monochromatic": [
    "#FFFF5C",
    "#FFFF00",
    "#A3A300"
  ]
}
Variants
{
  "light": "#FFFF5C",
  "dark": "#A3A300",
  "saturated": "#FFFF00",
  "desaturated": "#E3E31C",
  "pastel": "#F5F589",
  "neon": "#FFFF29"
}
Pairings
{
  "best": [
    "#000000",
    "#0000FF",
    "#FF8000",
    "#80FF00"
  ],
  "avoid": [
    "#E3E31C",
    "#FFFF5C"
  ],
  "neutral": [
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#F5F5F5",
    "#E8E8E4"
  ],
  "highContrast": [
    "#000000"
  ],
  "lowContrast": [
    "#FFFF5C",
    "#E3E31C"
  ]
}
Knowledge graph
{
  "nearestColors": [
    "lemon",
    "cadmium-yellow",
    "canary-yellow",
    "chartreuse-green",
    "golden-yellow"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "yellow"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "chartreuse-green-vs-yellow",
    "electric-lime-vs-yellow",
    "yellow-vs-cadmium-yellow",
    "yellow-vs-lemon"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/yellow",
    "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
    "/colors/by-tone/vibrant"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/yellow",
    "/wcag/yellow",
    "/css/colors/yellow",
    "/hex/ffff00"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/yellow",
      "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
      "/colors/by-tone/vibrant"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/yellow"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/lemon",
      "/colors/cadmium-yellow",
      "/colors/canary-yellow",
      "/colors/chartreuse-green",
      "/colors/golden-yellow",
      "/compare/chartreuse-green-vs-yellow",
      "/compare/electric-lime-vs-yellow",
      "/compare/yellow-vs-cadmium-yellow",
      "/compare/yellow-vs-lemon",
      "/harmonies/yellow",
      "/wcag/yellow",
      "/css/colors/yellow",
      "/hex/ffff00"
    ]
  }
}
Full JSON dataset 
{
  "slug": "yellow",
  "name": "Yellow",
  "cssName": "yellow",
  "hex": "#FFFF00",
  "family": "yellow",
  "temperature": "warm",
  "tone": [
    "vibrant"
  ],
  "uses": [
    "web design",
    "CSS color systems",
    "UI prototyping"
  ],
  "psychology": {
    "associations": [
      "context dependent"
    ],
    "contexts": [
      "web interfaces",
      "design systems",
      "technical color references"
    ],
    "avoidIn": [
      "claims that require brand or cultural specificity"
    ]
  },
  "aliases": [
    "yellow"
  ],
  "sourceType": "standard",
  "confidence": "high",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.w3.org/TR/css-color-4/#named-colors",
  "origin": {
    "type": "css",
    "notes": "Standard CSS named color."
  },
  "reviewStatus": "auto",
  "editorialNotes": "Generated from CSS named color data and computed color-system properties.",
  "tags": [
    "yellow",
    "warm",
    "vibrant",
    "web-design",
    "css-color-systems",
    "ui-prototyping",
    "context-dependent"
  ],
  "popularity": 82,
  "rgb": [
    255,
    255,
    0
  ],
  "hsl": [
    60,
    100,
    50
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    0,
    0,
    100,
    0
  ],
  "luminance": 0.9278,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 19.56,
    "white": 1.07
  },
  "harmonies": {
    "complementary": "#0000FF",
    "analogous": [
      "#FF8000",
      "#80FF00"
    ],
    "triadic": [
      "#00FFFF",
      "#FF00FF"
    ],
    "tetradic": [
      "#00FF80",
      "#0000FF",
      "#FF0080"
    ],
    "splitComplementary": [
      "#007FFF",
      "#7F00FF"
    ],
    "monochromatic": [
      "#FFFF5C",
      "#FFFF00",
      "#A3A300"
    ]
  },
  "variants": {
    "light": "#FFFF5C",
    "dark": "#A3A300",
    "saturated": "#FFFF00",
    "desaturated": "#E3E31C",
    "pastel": "#F5F589",
    "neon": "#FFFF29"
  },
  "wcag": {
    "AA": [
      "#000000",
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#36454F"
    ],
    "AAA": [
      "#000000",
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#36454F"
    ]
  },
  "css": {
    "variable": "--color-yellow: #FFFF00;",
    "utility": ".bg-yellow { background-color: #FFFF00; }",
    "textUtility": ".text-yellow { color: #FFFF00; }"
  },
  "nearestColors": [
    "lemon",
    "cadmium-yellow",
    "canary-yellow",
    "chartreuse-green",
    "golden-yellow"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "yellow"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "chartreuse-green-vs-yellow",
    "electric-lime-vs-yellow",
    "yellow-vs-cadmium-yellow",
    "yellow-vs-lemon"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/yellow",
    "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
    "/colors/by-tone/vibrant"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/yellow",
    "/wcag/yellow",
    "/css/colors/yellow",
    "/hex/ffff00"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/yellow",
      "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
      "/colors/by-tone/vibrant"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/yellow"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/lemon",
      "/colors/cadmium-yellow",
      "/colors/canary-yellow",
      "/colors/chartreuse-green",
      "/colors/golden-yellow",
      "/compare/chartreuse-green-vs-yellow",
      "/compare/electric-lime-vs-yellow",
      "/compare/yellow-vs-cadmium-yellow",
      "/compare/yellow-vs-lemon",
      "/harmonies/yellow",
      "/wcag/yellow",
      "/css/colors/yellow",
      "/hex/ffff00"
    ]
  },
  "pairings": {
    "best": [
      "#000000",
      "#0000FF",
      "#FF8000",
      "#80FF00"
    ],
    "avoid": [
      "#E3E31C",
      "#FFFF5C"
    ],
    "neutral": [
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#F5F5F5",
      "#E8E8E4"
    ],
    "highContrast": [
      "#000000"
    ],
    "lowContrast": [
      "#FFFF5C",
      "#E3E31C"
    ]
  }
}
Dataset manifest Version 1.0.0 Build hash published in manifest Canonical page

Color meaning and use

About Yellow Color

Yellow sits in the yellow family with warm temperature and vibrant visual character. Standard CSS named color.

Its common associations include context dependent, which makes it relevant for web interfaces and design systems. In design work, Yellow is most useful for web design, css color systems, and ui prototyping, especially when paired with black text for stronger contrast.

Related Color Guides

Yellow color familyBrowse named yellow colors and compare nearby swatches.Warm colorsExplore colors with warm temperature behavior.Vibrant colorsFind colors with vibrant visual character.Yellow accessibilityCheck contrast and WCAG text options for #FFFF00.Yellow CSS utilitiesUse Yellow in CSS variables and utility classes.#FFFF00 HEX atlasOpen the permanent HEX atlas record for conversions and variants.Yellow paletteOpen the generated palette based on Yellow.Yellow harmoniesExplore complementary, analogous, triadic, and tetradic harmonies.

WCAG Accessibility

Contrast checks for Yellow against black and white text.

Black text19.56:1AA Pass
White text1.07:1AA Fail
AA text options#000000, #1A1A1A, #36454F
AAA text options#000000, #1A1A1A, #36454F
Open WCAG pageDetailed contrast notes, warnings, alternatives, and UI examples

Similar Colors

Lemon#FFF700
Cadmium Yellow#FFF600
Canary Yellow#FFEF00
Chartreuse Green#DFFF00
Golden Yellow#FFDF00

Color Harmonies

Blue#0000FF
#FF8000#FF8000
#80FF00#80FF00
Cyan#00FFFF
Magenta#FF00FF
Open full Yellow harmony pageComplementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, split, and monochromatic sets

Variants

#FFFF5C#FFFF5C
#A3A300#A3A300
Yellow#FFFF00
#E3E31C#E3E31C
#F5F589#F5F589
#FFFF29#FFFF29

Pairings

Black#000000
Blue#0000FF
#FF8000#FF8000
#80FF00#80FF00
Matte Black#1A1A1A
White Smoke#F5F5F5