Why do we use three character hex color codes for safe colors?

Asked By DavidSBernal 10 points N/A Posted on - 06/03/2013

We use three character hex color codes of browser safe colors, for example #F4E means #FF44EE, each one is repeated twice to give a 6 character code. Why are these browser safe, can't browsers handle 6 digit color codes accurately these days? I notice sometimes a JPG sometimes shows a different color when viewed than it did in the editor, is that to do with this?

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Answered By Lopez Berardi 0 points N/A #171034

Why do we use three character hex color codes for safe colors?

The concept of Web-safe colors came from a time when most computer systems are only capable of displaying 256 colors. Now that most computer and even mobile displays can display at least 16-bit color, Web-safe colors are now considered obsolete. The use of 3-digit over 6-digit color codes is just a matter of preference nowadays.

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• Posted on - 06/03/2013
• Question Category: Web Graphics