What is a hex color code?
A hex color code is a 6-digit hexadecimal representation of a color. #FF0000 is red, #6366F1 is indigo — the most common color format in web development.
Definition
A hex color code is a six-character (or three-character shorthand) hexadecimal representation of a color, prefixed with `#`. It encodes RGB values where each pair of characters represents red, green, and blue intensity from 00 (none) to FF (maximum).
How it works
Hex codes are the lingua franca of web colors. `#FF0000` = full red, no green, no blue. `#6366F1` = 63 red, 66 green, F1 blue (indigo). The 8-digit variant (`#6366F180`) adds alpha transparency. While HSL is better for human understanding and RGB for calculations, hex remains the most commonly used format in CSS, design tools, and brand guidelines because it's compact and universally supported.
Why it matters
When someone asks 'what's your brand color?' they expect a hex code. It's the standard format for sharing colors between designers, developers, and tools. Understanding hex lets you quickly assess colors: higher first pair = more red, equal values (like `#888888`) = gray, `FF` values = maximum saturation.
Example
`#6366F1` (OneMinuteBranding's primary indigo) breaks down to: R:99 G:102 B:241. High blue with some red = purple-leaning indigo. In HSL: hsl(239, 84%, 67%). All three formats represent the same color.
Related terms
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