A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name
I built this API to return the closest named color for any hex value—using curated lists like my own [1], XKCD [2], and others. I made it from scratch without Express or any frameworks because: - I’m a frontend/interaction dev and wanted to learn how to build an API from the ground up. - Existing APIs didn’t guarantee unique names per color—mine does. - It also supports WebSocket updates, gzip responses, and multiple name sets. I’ve been collecting color names for over 10 years [1]. With ~30,000 entries, bundling them into every color-related project became excessive. This API keeps…
A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name launched on June 19, 2025 with 97 votes, #445 of 7,999 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 1 year on.
In plain words
This API takes any hex color value and returns the closest human-readable color name from curated databases including a 30,000-entry personal collection and XKCD's list. Built from scratch without frameworks, it guarantees unique names per color and supports WebSocket updates and gzip compression. Designed for developers and designers who need lightweight color naming without bundling large datasets into projects.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Color Name API: A free and simple API to get human-readable color names from hex codes.
The Color Name API is a powerful tool that provides a variety of color names based on a given color value. It leverages multiple open-source name lists to deliver accurate and diverse results. This page serves as an interactive playground where you can explore and test the API in action. Just want to know the name of a color? Paste your hex code below. Looking to use the API? Keep scrolling for a quick overview of the API endpoints and parameters. Or read the code on GitHub or the full API documentation . The Color Name API allows you to query for color names based on hex values. You can specify multiple colors, choose a color name list, and control whether to return unique names. Use the…from meodai.github.io
In the maker’s words, at launch
I built this API to return the closest named color for any hex value—using curated lists like my own [1], XKCD [2], and others. I made it from scratch without Express or any frameworks because: - I’m a frontend/interaction dev and wanted to learn how to build an API from the ground up. - Existing APIs didn’t…
Does a similar job
all alternatives →- ACA color picker for named web colors2022 · arantius.github.io · ▲731
I had this idea kicking around in my head for quite a while. Took an evening to make this, and a short morning to polish it a bit. So here it is!
More dev tools this month
the category →
open-source IDE for thoughtful software design. Contribute to devdotfast/whiteboard development by creating an account on GitHub.
Dev tools · 28d ago · github.com
Contribute to reladraw/reladraw development by creating an account on GitHub.
Dev tools · 26d ago · github.com
OpenBot▲362Grok Bot alternative: free, local, open-source, multiplayer
Dev tools · 24d ago · openbot.run
Contribute to oosexgang/hackios-xnu-kernel development by creating an account on GitHub.
Dev tools · 13h ago · github.com
Talanoa▲346Hi HN, I’m a fullstack developer, and honestly, I’ve lost count of how many side projects I’ve worked on over the years. But one idea kept coming back to me: a different kind of email client. It first came to me in 2014: “What if we could handle emails more like conversations?” Every year, I’d revisit this concept in my “Build Notes.” Ten years later, no one had built exactly what I had in mind — so I finally decided to do it myself. That’s how Talanoa was born. I wanted something focused on people, not timelines. I was tired of marking messages as unread just to remember to reply later, or…
Dev tools · 21d ago · talanoa.email
Source: Show HN post ↗ · launch text quoted in part
Launched alongside, June 2025
the whole month →- IM
Hey HN! Pilots everywhere are required to keep a logbook of all their flying hours, aircraft, airports, and so on. Since I track everything digitally (some people still just use paper logbooks!), I put together some data visualizations and a few 3D globes to show my flying history. This globe is probably my favourite so far: https://jameshard.ing/pilot/globes/all If you’ve got ideas for other graphs or ways to show this kind of data, I’d love to hear them!
Life & fun · 2025 · jameshard.ing
Stunning presentations with AI. No design skills required.
AI · 2025 · chroniclehq.com
Build native mobile apps for iOS and Android without code.
Dev tools · 2025 · bble.io
All your connections, across all your socials.
AI · 2025 · pally.com
I was the main contributor to workout.lol, an open-source fitness app to easily build a workout routine. The project had traction (1.4k GitHub stars, 95 forks, ~20K visits/month), but was eventually sold due to video licensing hurdles. The new owner stopped maintaining it, and the repo went abandoned. Over the next 9 months, I sent 15 emails to try to save it : no replies. Feature requests & issues were ignored. The community was left with a "broken" tool let's say. I couldn't just let it die So I built the new version from scratch with the same open-source spirit, but a better…
Dev tools · 2025 · github.com