Yellow
Yellow (#FFFF00) is a very light, vivid yellow with a warm feel. It has a hue angle of 60° and a lightness of 97%. Its strong saturation makes it eye-catching, so use it with intent and let neutrals do the rest.
About this color
What Yellow looks like, feels like and where it works.
Description
Yellow (#FFFF00) is a very light, vivid yellow with a warm feel. It has a hue angle of 60° and a lightness of 97%. Its strong saturation makes it eye-catching, so use it with intent and let neutrals do the rest.
Psychology
Yellow is the brightest hue and the quickest to attract the eye. It feels cheerful and hopeful, but bright yellows tire the eye in large areas and need dark partners for text. As a light shade, Yellow feels airy and gentle.
Meaning
Yellow means sunshine and joy, and also caution: it is the color of warning signs and taxis because it is seen from far away. Muted golds suggest warmth and value.
Why use this color
Yellow is a confident accent. 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
- Highlights, badges and notices
- Travel and education
- Warning and caution signs
- Accents on dark backgrounds
History
Early yellows were ochre and orpiment, an arsenic sulfide. Chrome yellow, introduced in the early 1800s, became famous in Van Gogh's sunflowers.
Accessibility
White text on Yellow has a contrast ratio of 1.07:1 (fails); black text has 19.55:1 (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 Yellow
Tailwind-style scale
Color harmonies of Yellow
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.