About

CSS Gradients are a powerful feature in modern web design that allow you to display smooth transitions between two or more specified colors. Unlike traditional image-based backgrounds, CSS gradients are generated by the browser, which means they are resolution-independent, scale perfectly to any zoom level, and significantly reduce page load times by eliminating the need for HTTP requests for image files.

This tool allows you to visually construct both linear and radial gradients. You can define the direction (angle), add multiple color stops, and adjust their positions. The generator produces clean, standard CSS code compatible with all modern browsers, along with legacy fallbacks if necessary.

Formulas

The core syntax for a standard linear gradient follows a specific logic structure used by the browser's rendering engine:

background: linear-gradient( Angle, Color 1 Stop %, Color 2 Stop % );

For radial gradients, the geometry changes from a directional line to a shape radiating from a center point:

background: radial-gradient( Shape, Color 1 Stop %, Color 2 Stop % );

Reference Data

Gradient Type	Syntax Structure	Use Case
Linear	`linear-gradient(direction, color-stop1, color-stop2, ...)`	Backgrounds, buttons, progress bars, shadows.
Radial	`radial-gradient(shape size at position, start-color, ..., last-color)`	Spotlights, circular buttons, organic shapes, vignettes.
Conic	`conic-gradient(from angle at position, start-color, ...)`	Pie charts, color wheels, checkerboards (supported in modern browsers).

Frequently Asked Questions

Banding often occurs when there are not enough distinct color values available between two similar colors over a large area, or due to monitor limitations. Adding a slight amount of noise or using 'dithering' techniques can sometimes help, though pure CSS has limits here.

Yes. By using RGBA or HSLA color values (e.g., rgba(255, 0, 0, 0)), you can fade a color into transparency. This is widely used for image overlays and 'fade-out' effects.

Mathematically, they are similar in result (a horizontal gradient from left to right). However, '90deg' is an absolute angle where 0deg points upwards. 'To right' is a keyword that directs the gradient to the right side of the element, regardless of dimensions.