prefers-color-scheme Query Pattern
Generate exact supported color-scheme query prelude, not infer preference or apply CSS. Explicit supplied computed/layout context only; not a browser cascade/layout engine or cross-browser guarantee.
Description
Preferred color-scheme queries express a reported light or dark preference.
Preferred color-scheme queries express a reported light or dark preference.1
A stored pattern does not read device settings or build an accessible palette. Use prefers-color-scheme Query Pattern to look up a supported term.
When to use prefers-color-scheme Query Pattern
Use prefers-color-scheme Query Pattern to look up a supported term. Choose the exact supported token from the table; preserve its punctuation and capitalization.
How to use prefers-color-scheme Query Pattern and understand its results
- Choose the exact supported token from the table; preserve its punctuation and capitalization.
- Enter Scheme using the field table and validation rules below, then run the tool.
- Read Meaning and interpret units, signs, ordering and placeholders as explained below.
- If the tool reports an input error, correct that field and rerun. A successful false result, empty match list or unknown-evidence placeholder has the specific meaning described here; check the limitations before applying the result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| scheme | Scheme | string | Required; constraints below |
Enter one of the exact supported scheme tokens in the table below. The implementation performs a case-sensitive lookup and returns the stored meaning without interpreting a stylesheet, audio recording or performance. Unsupported tokens, added whitespace and alternate capitalization are input errors. The entries describe a bounded vocabulary rather than every valid value in the wider topic.
meaning = storedTable[exactSupportedToken] Field order, units and branch conditions follow the implementation explanation above.
| Exact supported token | Stored meaning |
|---|---|
| light | @media (prefers-color-scheme: light) |
| dark | @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) |
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| meaning | Stored explanation for the exact supported token. | string |
{
"input": {
"scheme": "dark"
},
"output": {
"meaning": "@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark)"
}
}Limitations and assumptions
A stored pattern does not read device settings or build an accessible palette. Apply the exact scope and assumptions described above.
All listed fields require explicit values. Unexpected fields, incorrect types, nonfinite numbers and sparse arrays fail validation. Domain-specific bounds, alignments and supported tokens are stated above; extremely large inputs or outputs can also be rejected. These errors differ from successful results such as false, no matches or unknown evidence.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use color-scheme dark/light Values Lookup for a related task: Color-scheme declares rendering schemes an element can support.
Use inverted-colors Media Lookup for a related task: An inverted-colors query concerns display color inversion.
References
-
prefers-color-scheme Query Pattern — tool.io
Similar or alternative tools
- color-scheme dark/light Values Lookup
Color-scheme declares rendering schemes an element can support.
- inverted-colors Media Lookup
An inverted-colors query concerns display color inversion.