Docs/APIs/Color Similarity Calculator

Color Similarity Calculator

Calculate similarity between two colors

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Overview

Color Similarity Calculator works by converting hex colors to RGB and HSL, calculating Euclidean distance in color space, and comparing hue, saturation, and lightness differences for comprehensive similarity analysis.

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

GEThttps://api.apiverve.com/v1/colorsimilarity
curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/colorsimilarity?color1=FF5733&color2=FF6B47" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"
const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/colorsimilarity?color1=FF5733&color2=FF6B47', {
  headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});

if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);

const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/colorsimilarity?color1=FF5733&color2=FF6B47",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()

print(res.json()["data"])
package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/colorsimilarity?color1=FF5733&color2=FF6B47", nil)
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

401 is the only auth verdict

A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

ParameterTypeDescription
color1RequiredstringFirst hex color value (with or without # prefix)
hexColor
color2RequiredstringSecond hex color value (with or without # prefix)
hexColor

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

Sample response
{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "color1": {
      "hex": "#FF5733",
      "rgb": {
        "r": 255,
        "g": 87,
        "b": 51
      },
      "hsl": {
        "h": 10.6,
        "s": 100,
        "l": 60
      }
    },
    "color2": {
      "hex": "#FF6B47",
      "rgb": {
        "r": 255,
        "g": 107,
        "b": 71
      },
      "hsl": {
        "h": 11.7,
        "s": 100,
        "l": 63.9
      }
    },
    "rgb_distance": 28.28,
    "rgb_similarity": 93.6,
    "hsl_similarity": 97.71,
    "overall_similarity": 95.65,
    "delta_e": 28.28,
    "hue_difference": 1.15,
    "saturation_difference": 0,
    "lightness_difference": 3.92,
    "similarity_category": "nearly identical",
    "are_identical": false
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

FieldTypeExampleDescription
color1object{...}The first colour, in hex, RGB and HSL
hexstring"#FF5733"First color in hexadecimal format representation
rgbobject{...}First colour as red, green and blue channels
rnumber255Red channel value for first color
gnumber87Green channel value for first color
bnumber51Blue channel value for first color
hslobject{...}First colour as hue, saturation and lightness
hnumber10.6Hue value for first color in degrees
snumber100Saturation percentage for first color
lnumber60Lightness percentage for first color
color2object{...}The second colour, in hex, RGB and HSL
hexstring"#FF6B47"Second color in hexadecimal format representation
rgbobject{...}Second colour as red, green and blue channels
rnumber255Red channel value for second color
gnumber107Green channel value for second color
bnumber71Blue channel value for second color
hslobject{...}Second colour as hue, saturation and lightness
hnumber11.7Hue value for second color in degrees
snumber100Saturation percentage for second color
lnumber63.9Lightness percentage for second color
rgb_distancePremiumnumber28.28Euclidean distance between colors in RGB space
rgb_similarityPremiumnumber93.6Percentage similarity based on RGB color space
hsl_similarityPremiumnumber97.71Percentage similarity based on HSL color space
overall_similaritynumber95.65Combined similarity percentage from all algorithms
delta_ePremiumnumber28.28Delta E color difference metric for perceptual similarity
hue_differencePremiumnumber1.15Hue difference between colors in degrees
saturation_differencePremiumnumber0Saturation percentage difference between colors
lightness_differencePremiumnumber3.92Lightness percentage difference between colors
similarity_categorystring"nearly identical"Human readable category describing similarity level
are_identicalbooleanfalseBoolean indicating if colors are exactly identical

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

StatusMeaningWhat to do
400Input was rejectedRead error; it names the parameter.
401Key missing or invalidCheck the header name and the key value.
403Key valid, but not permittedA key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping.
429Rate limited, or out of creditsRead error to tell them apart; see rate limits.

Use cases

Color Matching
Find and compare similar colors for design consistency and brand compliance
Image Processing
Compare colors in images for color correction and matching operations
Design Systems
Validate color palette consistency and identify similar colors in design systems
Quality Control
Compare product colors against standards for quality assurance and brand consistency

Other ways to use Color Similarity Calculator

Set up Color Similarity Calculator on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKitReference →
Use it in Google Sheets or ExcelA =VERVE() formula fills a column — no script, no export, recalculates in place.VerveSheetsReference →
Ground an agent on itA cited, machine-checkable fact your model can't produce on its own.VerveContextReference →

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