css types color lab()

The lab() functional notation expresses a given color in the CIE L*a*b* color space. Lab represents the entire range of color that humans can see.

Syntax

lab(29.2345% 39.3825 20.0664);
lab(52.2345% 40.1645 59.9971);
lab(52.2345% 40.1645 59.9971 / .5);

Values

Functional notation: lab(L a b[ / A])

L

A <number>() between 0 and 100, a <percentage>() between 0% and 100%, or the keyword none, which specifies the CIE Lightness. Here the number 0 corresponds to 0% (black) and the number 100 corresponds to 100% (white).

a

A <number>() between -125 and 125, a <percentage>() between -100% and 100%, or the keyword none, which specifies the distance along the a axis in the CIELAB colorspace, that is how green/red the color is.

b

A <number>() between -125 and 125, a <percentage>() between -100% and 100%, or the keyword none, which specifies the distance along the b axis in the CIELAB colorspace, that is how blue/yellow the color is.

A Optional

An <alpha-value>() or the keyword none, where the number 1 corresponds to 100% (full opacity).

Examples

Adjusting lightness and color axes with lab()

The following example shows the effect of varying the lightness, a-axis, and b-axis values of the lab() function.

HTML

<div data-color="red"></div>
<div data-color="red-a"></div>

<div data-color="green"></div>
<div data-color="green-b"></div>

<div data-color="blue"></div>
<div data-color="blue-light"></div>

CSS

div {
  width: 50px;
  height: 50px;
  padding: 5px;
  margin: 5px;
  display: inline-block;
  border: 1px solid black;
}

[data-color="red"] {
  background-color: lab(100 125 125);
}
[data-color="red-a"] {
  background-color: lab(100 110 125);
}

[data-color="green"] {
  background-color: lab(75% -120 125);
}
[data-color="green-b"] {
  background-color: lab(75% -120 10);
}

[data-color="blue"] {
  background-color: lab(0 -120 -120);
}
[data-color="blue-light"] {
  background-color: lab(70 -120 -120);
}

Adjusting opacity with lab()

The following example shows the effect of varying the A (alpha) value of the lab() functional notation. The red and red-alpha elements overlap the #background-div element to demonstrate the effect of opacity. Giving A a value of 0.4 makes the color 40% opaque.

HTML

<div id="background-div">
  <div data-color="red"></div>
  <div data-color="red-alpha"></div>
</div>

CSS

div {
  width: 50px;
  height: 50px;
  padding: 5px;
  margin: 5px;
  display: inline-block;
  border: 1px solid black;
}
#background-div {
  background-color: lightblue;
  width: 150px;
  height: 40px;
}

[data-color="red"] {
  background-color: lab(100 125 125);
}
[data-color="red-alpha"] {
  background-color: lab(100 125 125 / 0.4);
}

See also

• The <color> data type for a list of all color notations
• LCH colors in CSS: what, why, and how?
• Safari Technology Preview 122 release notes: includes lab() and lch() colors