← Back toFront-end tips

Reuse the current color

Written byPhuoc Nguyen
Created
03 Mar, 2021
Category
Practice
Tags
CSS
Instead of repeating colors in a few places, we can define a value for the `color` property once and reuse it with the `currentColor` keyword.
css
/* Bad */
div {
color: #d1d5db;
background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, #d1d5db, #fff);
}

/* Good */
div {
color: #d1d5db;
background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, currentColor, #fff);
}
Because the `color` property of an element, if not specified, is inherited from its parent, we can use the `currentColor` keyword in the children of element.
For example, let's say that we want the color of a link to be the same with its container, a given `div` element:
css
/* Bad: Declare same color in three places */
div {
color: #fff;
}
div a {
border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;
color: #fff;
text-decoration: none;
}

/* Good */
div {
color: #fff;
}
div a {
border-bottom: 1px solid currentColor;
color: currentColor;
text-decoration: none;
}
We often use the `currentColor` keyword in the camelCase format. However, CSS is case-insensitive meaning that `CurrentColor`, `currentcolor` or even `cUrReNtCoLoR` are valid keywords and have the same effect as `currentColor`
If you found this post helpful, please consider giving the repository a star on GitHub or sharing the post on your favorite social networks 😍. Your support would mean a lot to me!

Questions? 🙋

Do you have any questions about front-end development? If so, feel free to create a new issue on GitHub using the button below. I'm happy to help with any topic you'd like to learn more about, even beyond what's covered in this post.
While I have a long list of upcoming topics, I'm always eager to prioritize your questions and ideas for future content. Let's learn and grow together! Sharing knowledge is the best way to elevate ourselves 🥷.
Ask me questions

Recent posts ⚡

Newsletter 🔔

If you're into front-end technologies and you want to see more of the content I'm creating, then you might want to consider subscribing to my newsletter.
By subscribing, you'll be the first to know about new articles, products, and exclusive promotions.
Don't worry, I won't spam you. And if you ever change your mind, you can unsubscribe at any time.
Phước Nguyễn