Nested Colors in CSS

Understanding Nested Colors in CSS

When we talk about color in CSS, we usually think of solid colors like red or blue. However, in CSS, there are more advanced methods for defining colors that refer to nested colors. These colors provide you with the capability to define your colors based on other existing colors on the page. This functionality is particularly useful for creating color gradients and very vivid reflections.

For example, you might want to adjust a base color that gets darker or lighter based on a certain color key. In such cases, nested colors tend to be highly practical. By using this feature, colors can automatically adjust based on changes to other colors, ensuring your designs always match.

Why Should We Use Nested Colors?

Using nested colors not only results in greater design flexibility but also simplifies color management. By changing a base color, all colors associated with it will automatically change. This is a crucial feature in large projects that require frequent modifications, serving as a significant advantage.

Nested colors can always be defined based on preset bases. This means that you can easily change base colors or completely change your palette without needing to change each individual element involved.

How to Use Nested Colors in CSS

In CSS, you can use functions like color-mix() or color-contrast() to define nested colors. Although these functions are still gradually becoming standardized, the concept of nested colors is becoming well-established.

Examples of Code for Nested Colors

body {
  --main-bg-color: #3498db;
  --main-text-color: color-contrast(var(--main-bg-color), contrast-text);
}

header {
  background-color: var(--main-bg-color);
  color: var(--main-text-color);
}

footer {
  background-color: color-mix(in oklab, var(--main-bg-color) 40%, white 60%);
}

Line-by-Line Explanation of the Code