Gray (web)
The standard mid-tone between white and black on screens
Gray (web) is the colour exactly halfway between white and black, used as the standard gray in digital design. Its name was first recorded in English in 700, and this specific tone is set as the default gray for web and HTML use.
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- Gray (web) is the standard gray for screens and web design
- It is exactly halfway between white and black
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 700
- Its digital code is #808080
What colour is Gray (web)?
Gray (web) is the exact middle shade between white and black. It appears as a neutral, even colour with no hint of warmth or coolness, making it distinct from lighter or darker grays. On screens and in digital design, this tone is the reference point for gray, providing a balanced, unobtrusive background or accent.
Where does Gray (web) come from?
The word 'gray' was first used as a colour name in English in 700. The web or HTML gray is chosen because it sits precisely halfway between white and black, making it a universal standard for digital applications.
How Gray (web) is defined
Gray (web) is not made from pigments or dyes but is defined by its position between white and black in digital colour systems. Its hex code is #808080, which means all three RGB (red, green, blue) values are set to 128, creating a perfectly balanced gray.
Where Gray (web) is used
This shade is widely used in web and digital design as the default gray. It serves as a neutral background, divider, or accent, ensuring clarity and legibility in user interfaces and websites.
Shades and relatives of Gray (web)
Other grays may be lighter or darker, but web gray is always the exact midpoint. It is sometimes called HTML gray. Variants include silver (lighter) and charcoal (darker), but these are not the standard web gray.
Colours that go with Gray (web)
Harmonies are worked out from the value #808080. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Gray (web)
What colour is Gray (web)?
Gray (web) is a neutral shade exactly halfway between white and black, with no tint of other colours. It is the standard gray used in digital and web design.
Where does the name 'gray' come from?
The name 'gray' was first recorded as a colour name in English in the year 700.
How is Gray (web) defined?
Gray (web) is defined by its digital code #808080, meaning all RGB values are equal and set to 128, making it the precise midpoint between white and black.
What is Gray (web) used for?
It is used as the standard gray in web and digital design, often as a background or accent to ensure clarity and neutrality.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Shades of gray" (the section "Gray"), written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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