darktheme

Dark theme, also referred to as dark mode, is a color scheme that presents light-colored foreground content on a dark background. It is designed to reduce glare in low-light conditions and to decrease perceived brightness, which can improve comfort for some users. Dark themes are implemented across operating systems, applications, and websites, and many products allow users to switch between dark and light appearances or to follow system settings automatically.

The concept gained widespread adoption in the 2010s as a user experience option. Major platforms introduced system-wide dark modes, including macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android, along with widespread support in web designs. Implementations typically involve separate color tokens for backgrounds, surfaces, text, and UI elements, with considerations for contrast, readability, and accessibility.

Benefits commonly cited include reduced glare, potential eye strain relief in dim environments, and, on OLED displays, energy savings when using dark backgrounds. However, the effectiveness of a dark theme can vary by content and user preference. Readability may suffer if color contrasts are too low or if color-coded information relies on light-on-dark cues that lack sufficient distinction. Some users also prefer light themes for long-form reading or color-critical tasks.

Implementation approaches vary, but developers often use theming systems that separate color palettes from layout, leveraging CSS variables or platform-specific theming APIs. Responsiveness to user preferences via prefers-color-scheme or equivalent mechanisms is typical, as is providing per-content or per-app customization to suit diverse needs.