CSS @media color-index Property

Posted in CSS Tutorial

Updated on Sep 14, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 4 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

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Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

The @media color-index property in CSS is used within media queries to target devices based on the number of colors they can display. This property specifically refers to the number of color entries in a device’s color lookup table, typically applied to limited-color displays like older screens. By utilizing the color-index, you can tailor your styles to different devices based on their color capabilities.

💡 Syntax

The @media color-index property is used within a media query and takes numerical values to specify the minimum or exact number of colors supported by the device.

Syntax

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@media (color-index: value) {
  /* CSS rules */
}

value: A positive integer representing the number of colors available in the device’s color lookup table.

🏠 Property Values

Integer: A positive integer value representing the number of color entries in the device's color lookup table. For example, 256 represents 8-bit color.

🎛️ Default Value

The color-index property does not have a default value. It depends on the specific device’s display capabilities.

📝 Example Usage

📜 Basic Usage

In this example, styles will apply only if the device supports a color index of at least 256 colors.

example.scss

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@media (color-index: 256) {
  body {
    background-color: lightblue;
  }
  p {
    color: darkblue;
  }
}

If the device supports at least 256 colors, the background color of the page will be lightblue, and the text color of the paragraph will be darkblue.

🖥️ Browser Compatibility

The @media color-index property is supported in modern browsers, but its practical usage is limited since most devices today are capable of displaying millions of colors. It is more useful when dealing with older or specialized devices that may have limited color capabilities.

🎉 Conclusion

The @media color-index property allows developers to create style rules that cater to devices with limited color palettes. While it’s rarely used in modern web development due to the widespread use of high-color displays, it can still be useful in niche scenarios. If you are targeting legacy devices or unique displays, this property can help create a more adaptable user experience.