Does this support transparency or alpha values?

No — it converts solid colors only; transparency typically adds a fourth alpha channel that isn't handled here.

Why does my hex code show as invalid?

Hex colors need exactly 3 or 6 valid hexadecimal digits (0-9, A-F) after the # — any other length or character is flagged as invalid.

Does the # symbol matter?

No — the tool strips it automatically if present, so entering the hex digits with or without the leading # works the same way.

What's shorthand hex, like #FFF?

A 3-digit shortcut where each digit repeats once to form the full 6-digit value — #FFF expands to #FFFFFF (white), and this tool handles both forms automatically.

Does capitalization matter when typing the hex code?

No — both uppercase and lowercase hex digits (a-f or A-F) convert identically; only the readout's HEX value is always displayed in uppercase, regardless of how you typed it.

Can I enter an RGB or HSL value directly instead of hex?

No — hex is the only input field; RGB and HSL are shown as read-only converted output. To go the other direction, convert your RGB or HSL value to hex first.

Why is my HSL lightness value rounded?

All three HSL components (hue, saturation, lightness) round to the nearest whole number for a cleaner readout, so two extremely close but distinct hex colors can occasionally show identical rounded HSL figures.

What happens if I enter something that isn't a color at all, like plain text?

It's treated as an invalid hex code and shows an inline error rather than crashing, since the tool only accepts valid hexadecimal digits of the correct length.

Color Converter

About the Color Converter

Converts a color between HEX, RGB, and HSL formats simultaneously, with a live swatch preview, covering the three most common color notations in design and web development.

100% Free Runs in Your Browser No Sign-Up Required

How to use it

Enter a Hex color, with or without the leading #.
Read the matching RGB and HSL values, and preview the swatch.

Formula

RGB values are extracted directly from HEX digit pairs. HSL is derived from RGB using standard color-space conversion math based on the relative min/max of the red, green, and blue channels.

Worked example

The hex color #D4A24C converts to rgb(212, 162, 76) and roughly hsl(37°, 62%, 56%) — a warm gold tone.

Reference points (hand-verified against this tool's own conversion math)

Reference points (hand-verified against this tool's own conversion math)
Hex	RGB	HSL
#000000 (Black)	rgb(0, 0, 0)	hsl(0°, 0%, 0%)
#FFFFFF (White)	rgb(255, 255, 255)	hsl(0°, 0%, 100%)
#FF0000 (Red)	rgb(255, 0, 0)	hsl(0°, 100%, 50%)
#00FF00 (Green)	rgb(0, 255, 0)	hsl(120°, 100%, 50%)
#0000FF (Blue)	rgb(0, 0, 255)	hsl(240°, 100%, 50%)
#808080 (Gray)	rgb(128, 128, 128)	hsl(0°, 0%, 50%)

Recommendations

• HSL is often more intuitive for adjusting a color — changing lightness or saturation while keeping hue fixed produces predictable tints and shades.
• Three-character hex shorthand (like #FFF) is supported and expands automatically to the full six-digit form.
• Use the live swatch to sanity-check a conversion visually before using the value in code or design software.

Frequently asked questions

RGB defines a color by red, green, and blue light intensities; HSL defines it by hue, saturation, and lightness — the same color described two different ways that suit different editing tasks.

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