Re: [csswg-drafts] [css-color-adjust][css-color] Expose user agent native theme colors to CSS (#12837)

The browser bugs are about the reporter’s expectation that system color keywords (unlike other colors) should inzentiv change when users switch the color mode (light/dark/…), without requiring opting in with a media query or meta element. 

However, that seems mostly irrelevant to this issue. 

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In the demo, I see one group of keywords (reminiscent of existing pseudo classes) paired with another group of keywords:

1. `disabled`, `readonly`, `editable`, `require`, `default`, `indeterminate`, `target`, `focus`, `hover`, `selected`, `active`, `pending`
2. `explicit`, `primary`, `contextual`, `alternate`, `destructive`

There is also a third, “emotional” set of keywords, not combined with the others but with an “extreme” variation:

3. `comfort`, `calm`, `trust`, `danger`, `creativity`, `enthusiasm`, `conservative`

I’m still not sure whether or how this would be relevant for this issue. 

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I didn’t know which chrome colors browsers expose to custom themes/skins, but I assume [WebExtensions](https://w3c.github.io/webextensions/specification/), particularly [theme colors in `manifest.json`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/manifest.json/theme#colors), which are supported (to different extends) by Chrome, Edge and Firefox, is what was meant here:

- header area background: `frame`, `frame_inactive`
- new tab page: `ntp_background`, `ntp_card_background`, `ntp_text`
- pop-ups, drop-downs: `popup`, `popup_text`, `popup_highlight`, `popup_highlight_text`, `popup_border`
- sidebar: `sidebar`, `sidebar_text`, `sidebar_highlight`, `sidebar_highlight_text`, `sidebar_border`
- tab bar: `tab_background_text`, `tab_line`, `tab_loading`, `tab_selected`, `tab_text`
- toolbars (navigation, bookmarks, find, …): `toolbar`, `toolbar_text` = `bookmark_text`, `toolbar_top_separator`, `toolbar_bottom_separator`, `toolbar_vertical_separator`
  - input fields therein: `toolbar_field`,  `toolbar_field_text`, `toolbar_field_focus`, `toolbar_field_text_focus`, `toolbar_field_border`, `toolbar_field_border_focus`, `toolbar_field_highlight`, `toolbar_field_highlight_text`
  - toolbar buttons: `button_background_active`, `button_background_hover`
  - toolbar icons: `icons`, `icons_attention`

As I understand this issue now, the proposal is either a) to add these as new system color keywords (where they do not match existing ones) or b) to make system color keywords available in relative color syntax, i.e. after `from`. 

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Received on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 21:36:40 UTC