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# UI element colors

Retrieve standard color objects for use with windows, controls, labels, text, selections and other content in your app.

## Discussion

For design guidance, see [Human Interface Guidelines](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/macos/visual-design/color#dynamic-system-colors).

## Topics

### Label colors

[`labelColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/labelColor)

The primary color to use for text labels.

[`secondaryLabelColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/secondaryLabelColor)

The secondary color to use for text labels.

[`tertiaryLabelColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/tertiaryLabelColor)

The tertiary color to use for text labels.

[`quaternaryLabelColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/quaternaryLabelColor)

The quaternary color to use for text labels and separators.

### Text colors

[`textColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/textColor)

The color to use for text.

[`placeholderTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/placeholderTextColor)

The color to use for placeholder text in controls or text views.

[`selectedTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/selectedTextColor)

The color to use for selected text.

[`textBackgroundColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/textBackgroundColor)

The color to use for the background area behind text.

[`selectedTextBackgroundColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/selectedTextBackgroundColor)

The color to use for the background of selected text.

[`keyboardFocusIndicatorColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/keyboardFocusIndicatorColor)

The color to use for the keyboard focus ring around controls.

[`unemphasizedSelectedTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/unemphasizedSelectedTextColor)

The color to use for selected text in an unemphasized context.

[`unemphasizedSelectedTextBackgroundColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/unemphasizedSelectedTextBackgroundColor)

The color to use for the text background in an unemphasized context.

### Content colors

[`linkColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/linkColor)

The color to use for links.

[`separatorColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/separatorColor)

The color to use for separators between different sections of content.

[`selectedContentBackgroundColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/selectedContentBackgroundColor)

The color to use for the background of selected and emphasized content.

[`unemphasizedSelectedContentBackgroundColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/unemphasizedSelectedContentBackgroundColor)

The color to use for selected and unemphasized content.

### Menu colors

[`selectedMenuItemTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/selectedMenuItemTextColor)

The color to use for the text in menu items.

### Table colors

[`gridColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/gridColor)

The color to use for the optional gridlines, such as those in a table view.

[`headerTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/headerTextColor)

The color to use for text in header cells in table views and outline views.

[`alternatingContentBackgroundColors`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/alternatingContentBackgroundColors)

The colors to use for alternating content, typically found in table views and collection views.

### Control colors

[`controlAccentColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/controlAccentColor)

The user’s current accent color preference.

[`controlColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/controlColor)

The color to use for the flat surfaces of a control.

[`controlBackgroundColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/controlBackgroundColor)

The color to use for the background of large controls, such as scroll views or table views.

[`controlTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/controlTextColor)

The color to use for text on enabled controls.

[`disabledControlTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/disabledControlTextColor)

The color to use for text on disabled controls.

[`currentControlTint`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/currentControlTint)

The current system control tint color.

[`selectedControlColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/selectedControlColor)

The color to use for the face of a selected control—that is, a control that has been clicked or is being dragged.

[`selectedControlTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/selectedControlTextColor)

The color to use for text in a selected control—that is, a control being clicked or dragged.

[`alternateSelectedControlTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/alternateSelectedControlTextColor)

The color to use for text in a selected control.

[`scrubberTexturedBackground`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/scrubberTexturedBackground)

The patterned color to use for the background of a scrubber control.

### Window colors

[`windowBackgroundColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/windowBackgroundColor)

The color to use for the window background.

[`windowFrameTextColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/windowFrameTextColor)

The color to use for text in a window’s frame.

[`underPageBackgroundColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/underPageBackgroundColor)

The color to use in the area beneath your window’s views.

### Highlights and shadows

[`findHighlightColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/findHighlightColor)

The highlight color to use for the bubble that shows inline search result values.

[`highlightColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/highlightColor)

The color to use as a virtual light source on the screen.

[`shadowColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/shadowColor)

The color to use for virtual shadows cast by raised objects on the screen.

### Fill colors

[`quaternarySystemFill`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/quaternarySystemFill)

A color appropriate for filling large areas, such as a group box or tab pane.

[`quinaryLabel`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/quinaryLabel)

[`quinarySystemFill`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/quinarySystemFill)

A color appropriate for filling large areas that require subtle emphasis, such as content of a form.

[`secondarySystemFill`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/secondarySystemFill)

A color appropriate for filling small-size shapes, such as the backing of a progress indicator.

[`systemFill`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/systemFill)

A color appropriate for filling thin shapes, such as the track of a slider.

[`tertiarySystemFill`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/tertiarySystemFill)

A color appropriate for filling medium-size shapes, such as the backing of a switch.

[`textInsertionPointColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/textInsertionPointColor)

### Deprecated colors

[`alternateSelectedControlColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/alternateSelectedControlColor)

The system color used for the face of a selected control in a list or table.

[`controlAlternatingRowBackgroundColors`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/controlAlternatingRowBackgroundColors)

An array containing the system specified background colors for alternating rows in tables and lists.

[`controlHighlightColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/controlHighlightColor)

The system color used for the highlighted bezels of controls.

[`controlLightHighlightColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/controlLightHighlightColor)

The system color used for light highlights in controls.

[`controlShadowColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/controlShadowColor)

The system color used for the shadows dropped from controls.

[`controlDarkShadowColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/controlDarkShadowColor)

The system color used for the dark edge of the shadow dropped from controls.

[`headerColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/headerColor)

The system color used as the background color for header cells in table views and outline views.

[`knobColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/knobColor)

The system color used for the flat surface of a slider knob that hasn’t been selected.

[`selectedKnobColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/selectedKnobColor)

The system color used for the slider knob when it is selected.

[`scrollBarColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/scrollBarColor)

The system color used for scroll “bars”—that is, for the groove in which a scroller’s knob moves

[`secondarySelectedControlColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/secondarySelectedControlColor)

The color used for selected controls in non-key views.

[`selectedMenuItemColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/selectedMenuItemColor)

The color to use for the face of selected menu items.

[`windowFrameColor`](/documentation/AppKit/NSColor/windowFrameColor)

The system color used for window frames, except for their text.


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