contrast()

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since ⁨September 2016⁩.

The contrast() CSS function adjusts the contrast of the input image. Its result is a <filter-function>.

Try it

filter: contrast(1);

filter: contrast(1.75);

filter: contrast(50%);

filter: contrast(0);

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

Syntax

css

contrast(amount)

Values

amount Optional: The contrast of the result, specified as a <number> or a <percentage>. A value under 100% decreases the contrast, while a value over 100% increases it. A value of 0 or 0% will create an image that is completely gray, while a value of 1 or 100% leaves the input unchanged. Negative values are not allowed. The initial value for interpolation is 1. The default value is 1.

The following are pairs of equivalent values:

css

contrast(0)    /* Completely gray */
contrast(0%)

contrast(0.65) /* 65% contrast */
contrast(65%)

contrast()     /* No effect */
contrast(1)
contrast(100%)

contrast(2)    /* Double contrast */
contrast(200%)

Formal syntax

<contrast()> = 
  contrast( [ <number> | <percentage> ]? )

Examples

With the backdrop-filter property

This example applies a contrast() filter via the backdrop-filter CSS property to the paragraph and monospaced text, color shifting to the area behind the <p> and <code>.

css

.container {
  background: url(unity_for_the_people.jpg) no-repeat center / contain #339;
}
p {
  backdrop-filter: contrast(0.5);
}
code {
  backdrop-filter: contrast(0.15);
}

.container {
  padding: 3rem;
  width: 30rem;
}
p {
  padding: 0.5rem;
  color: #ffffff;
  font-family: sans-serif;
}

<div class="container">
  <p>
    Always ensure there is enough contrast between text and all background
    colors. If you think your text may land on top of a background image,
    include a <code>backdrop-filter</code>. Reducing the contrast of background
    colors with the <code>contrast()</code> filter may improve legibility but
    does not guarantee accessibility.
  </p>
</div>

With the filter property

This example applies a contrast() filter via the filter CSS property, changing contrast by shifting colors of the entire element, including content, border, background, and shadows.

css

p:first-of-type {
  filter: contrast(30%);
}
p:last-of-type {
  filter: contrast(300%);
}

p {
  text-shadow: 2px 2px blue;
  background-color: magenta;
  color: palegoldenrod;
  border: 1em solid rebeccapurple;
  box-shadow:
    inset -5px -5px red,
    5px 5px yellow;
  padding: 0.25rem;
  font-size: 1.25rem;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  width: 85vw;
}

<p>This paragraph has reduced contrast.</p>
<p>This paragraph has normal contrast.</p>
<p>This paragraph has increased contrast.</p>

With url() and the SVG contrast filter

The SVG <filter> element is used to define custom filter effects that can then be referenced by id. The <filter>'s <feComponentTransfer> primitive enables pixel-level color remapping. Given the following:

html

<svg
  xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
  id="svg"
  viewBox="0 0 240 151"
  height="0"
  width="0"
  overflow="visible"
  color-interpolation-filters="sRGB">
  <filter id="contrast">
    <feComponentTransfer>
      <feFuncR type="linear" slope="2" intercept="-0.5" />
      <feFuncG type="linear" slope="2" intercept="-0.5" />
      <feFuncB type="linear" slope="2" intercept="-0.5" />
    </feComponentTransfer>
  </filter>
</svg>

These values produce the same results:

css

filter: contrast(200%);
filter: url("#contrast"); /* with embedded SVG */
filter: url("folder/fileName.svg#contrast"); /* external svg filter definition */

This example shows three images: the image with a contrast() filter function applied, the image with an equivalent url() filter applied, and the original images for comparison:

<table cellpadding="5">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th><code>contrast()</code></th>
      <th><code>url()</code></th>
      <th>Original image</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>
        <img
          class="css-filter"
          src="https://mdn.github.io/shared-assets/images/examples/progress-pride-flag.jpg"
          alt="Pride flag" />
      </td>
      <td>
        <img
          class="svg-filter"
          src="https://mdn.github.io/shared-assets/images/examples/progress-pride-flag.jpg"
          alt="Pride flag" />
      </td>
      <td>
        <img
          src="https://mdn.github.io/shared-assets/images/examples/progress-pride-flag.jpg"
          alt="Pride flag" />
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

.css-filter {
  filter: contrast(200%);
}
.svg-filter {
  filter: url("#contrast");
}
svg:not(:root) {
  display: none;
}

Specifications

Specification
Filter Effects Module Level 1 # funcdef-filter-contrast

Browser compatibility

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This page was last modified on ⁨Jul 23, 2025⁩ by MDN contributors.

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