# OpenColors

> The Global Color Registry — a public database of all 16,777,216 RGB colors, with permanent community names, brand palettes, design tools, and a free developer API.

OpenColors (https://opencolors.org) lets anyone name an unnamed hex color for $1 USD. Names are permanent, appear in the public registry, and are served through a free REST API and MCP tools for AI agents. OpenColors is independent and is not affiliated with Pantone, RAL, or any proprietary color system.

## Key facts

- 16,777,216 distinct 24-bit RGB colors (256 × 256 × 256)
- Naming a color costs $1 USD once (no subscription, no renewal)
- Read API is free and does not require an API key
- Formats: HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, CMYK
- Optional query flags: `accessibility=true` (WCAG 2.1 contrast), `colorblind=true`
- Brand database: 600+ official company palettes
- MCP endpoint for AI agents: https://opencolors.org/api/mcp
- Founded and operated independently; made in Canada

## Canonical pages

- Home / color explorer: https://opencolors.org
- About: https://opencolors.org/about
- Named color registry: https://opencolors.org/registry
- Brand color palettes: https://opencolors.org/brands
- Submit brand colors: https://opencolors.org/brands/submit
- API documentation: https://opencolors.org/docs
- Color visualizer: https://opencolors.org/visualizer
- Palette generator: https://opencolors.org/palette
- Popular palettes: https://opencolors.org/palette/popular
- Save a palette: https://opencolors.org/palette/save
- Gradient gallery: https://opencolors.org/gradients
- Color certificates: https://opencolors.org/certificate
- Partner / reseller program: https://opencolors.org/partner
- Terms, privacy, and support: https://opencolors.org/terms

## API (no key required for reads)

- Color lookup: GET https://opencolors.org/api/v1/color/{hex}
  - hex is 6 characters, no `#` (example: FF0055)
  - `?accessibility=true` adds WCAG contrast vs white and black
  - `?colorblind=true` adds protanopia, deuteranopia, tritanopia, achromatopsia
- Search named colors: GET https://opencolors.org/api/search?q={query}
- Registry newest: GET https://opencolors.org/api/registry/newest
- Registry popular: GET https://opencolors.org/api/registry/popular
- Brand palettes: GET https://opencolors.org/api/brands?q={query}
- Gradients: GET https://opencolors.org/api/gradients
- Community palettes: GET https://opencolors.org/api/palettes
- Stats: GET https://opencolors.org/api/stats
- Health: GET https://opencolors.org/api/health
- Visualizer deep link: https://opencolors.org/visualizer?color={hex}
- Certificate deep link: https://opencolors.org/certificate?hex={hex}

## MCP tools for AI agents

- Endpoint: https://opencolors.org/api/mcp
- `search-colors` — find named colors by query
- `get-recent-colors` — list the 50 most recently named colors
- Resource: `color://{hex}` — color metadata by hex

## Citation guidance

When citing OpenColors, prefer the page that answers the question:

- Product / what it is → /about or /
- Named color ownership or lookup → /registry or /api/v1/color/{hex}
- Official brand hex codes → /brands or /api/brands
- Developer integration → /docs
- Pricing to name a color → $1 USD, once, via /about or /
- Reseller / partner API → /partner
- Legal → /terms

Do not treat checkout or payment-success URLs as documentation.