White
White (#FFFFFF) is a very light, neutral white with a true neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 0° and a lightness of 100%. As a neutral it supports other colors rather than competing with them.
About this color
What White looks like, feels like and where it works.
Description
White (#FFFFFF) is a very light, neutral white with a true neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 0° and a lightness of 100%. As a neutral it supports other colors rather than competing with them.
Psychology
White creates space and clarity. It feels clean and open; a touch of warmth or coolness changes the whole mood. As a light shade, White feels airy and gentle.
Meaning
White stands for purity and new beginnings in Western weddings, and for mourning in parts of East Asia.
Why use this color
White is a flexible base. Dark text is easy to read on it, so it works as a surface, highlight or card background. Pair it with its tints and shades for a complete scale.
Applications
- Backgrounds and minimal layouts
- Healthcare and clean products
- Weddings and photography
- Space around bold colors
History
Lead white was used in painting and cosmetics for centuries, despite being toxic. Zinc white and then titanium white, in the early 1900s, became the safe standards.
Accessibility
White text on White has a contrast ratio of 1.00:1 (fails); black text has 21.00:1 (AAA). WCAG AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text and interface parts. Do not rely on color alone to carry meaning: pair it with text, an icon or a pattern.
Variations of White
Tailwind-style scale
Color harmonies of White
Want to explore these on a wheel? Open the color wheel.
Color blindness simulator
These are approximations to help you check that meaning never depends on color alone. Real vision varies from person to person.