css function

`saturate()` CSS function

The saturate() CSS function super-saturates or desaturates the input image. Its result is a filter-function.

[!NOTE] saturate() is specified as a matrix operation on the RGB color. It does not actually convert the color to the HSL model, which is a non-linear operation. Therefore, it may not preserve the hue or lightness of the original color.

Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

filter: saturate(1);

filter: saturate(4);

filter: saturate(50%);

filter: saturate(0);

<section id="default-example">
  <img
    class="transition-all"
    id="example-element"
    src="/shared-assets/images/examples/firefox-logo.svg"
    width="200" />
</section>

Syntax

saturate(amount)

Parameters

amount Optional
- : The amount of the conversion, specified as a <number> or a <percentage>. A value under 100% desaturates the image, while a value over 100% super-saturates it. A value of 0% is completely unsaturated, while a value of 100% leaves the input unchanged. The initial value for interpolation is 1. The default value is 1.

Formal syntax

Examples

Examples of correct values for saturate()

saturate(0)     /* Completely unsaturated */
saturate(.4)    /* 40% saturated */
saturate()      /* No effect */
saturate(100%)  /* No effect */
saturate(200%)  /* Double saturation */

saturate() does not preserve hue or lightness

The diagram below compares two color gradients with hsl(0 50% 50%) as the mid-point: the first is generated using saturate(), and the second uses actual HSL color values. Note how the saturate() gradient shows differences in hue and lightness towards the two ends.

<div>
  <p>Using <code>saturate()</code></p>
  <div id="saturate"></div>
</div>
<div>
  <p>Using <code>hsl()</code></p>
  <div id="hsl"></div>
</div>

#saturate,
#hsl {
  display: flex;
  margin: 1em 0;
}

#saturate div,
#hsl div {
  width: 2px;
  height: 100px;
}

const saturate = document.getElementById("saturate");
const hsl = document.getElementById("hsl");

for (let i = 0; i <= 200; i++) {
  const div1 = document.createElement("div");
  div1.style.backgroundColor = `hsl(0 ${i / 2}% 50%)`;
  hsl.appendChild(div1);

  const div2 = document.createElement("div");
  div2.style.backgroundColor = "hsl(0 50% 50%)";
  div2.style.filter = `saturate(${i}%)`;
  saturate.appendChild(div2);
}

Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

Specifications

SpecificationsStandards references are available on the canonical MDN page.

Browser compatibility

Browser compatibilityCompatibility data is available on the canonical MDN page.