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currentColor in CSS: Simplifying Styling with Inherited Colors

In this trick, we will talk about currentColor, the magic keyword, and how it works in CSS to inherit the color value with the help of some examples.

In CSS, currentColor is a special keyword that represents the computed value of the color property. It’s a convenient way to inherit the color value from an element’s parent, making it easy to maintain consistent color schemes across different elements.

When you use currentColor in a CSS property, it takes on the color value of the element’s color property, whatever that may be. This allows you to create styles where certain properties, like borders or outlines, match the text color automatically.

Let’s look at an example to illustrate its usage:

Example 1: Using currentColor for Dynamic Border Colors

In this example, we will see how we can set the border color dynamically by inheriting the element’s color.

.button {
    color: blue; /* Text color */
    border: 2px solid currentColor; /* Border color same as text color */
    padding: 10px 20px;
    background-color: transparent;
}

In the above code, the .button class has a blue text color specified. The border property for the button is set to 2px solid currentColor, which means the border color will automatically match the text color (blue in this case). This ensures that the border seamlessly integrates with the text color, without the need to specify the color separately.

Example 2: Using currentColor for Dynamic Box-shadow Colors

.box {
    width: 100px;
    height: 100px;
    box-shadow: 10px 10px 5px -7px currentColor;
    border: 2px solid currentColor;
    color: #ff0000; /* Red text color */
}

In this example, we have an <div> element with the class .box. The color property is set to #ff0000, making the text inside the <div> red. Both the box-shadow and border properties of the .box class are set to currentColor. As a result, the box shadow and border color of the box will automatically inherit the red color value from the text.

By using currentColor, you simplify your CSS code and make it more maintainable. If you decide to change the text color later, you don’t need to update the box shdaow color separately. It will automatically adjust to match the new text color.

In summary, currentColor in CSS allows you to inherit the color value from the parent element’s color property, streamlining your stylesheet, and ensuring consistent color schemes throughout your design.

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FAQs

What is currentColor in CSS?

currentColor in CSS inherits the color value from the parent element’s color property, facilitating consistent styling.

How does currentColor work in CSS?

By dynamically inheriting color values, currentColor simplifies CSS styling, ensuring cohesive design across elements.

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About Aman Mehra

Hey there! I'm Aman Mehra, a full-stack developer with over six years of hands-on experience in the industry. I've dedicated myself to mastering the ins and outs of PHP, WordPress, ReactJS, NodeJS, and AWS, so you can trust me to handle your web development needs with expertise and finesse. In 2021, I decided to share my knowledge and insights with the world by starting this blog. It's been an incredible journey so far, and I've had the opportunity to learn and grow alongside my readers. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just dipping your toes into the world of web development, I'm here to provide valuable content and solutions to help you succeed. So, stick around, explore the blog, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions. Together, let's navigate the exciting world of web development!

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