Dark mode in web design has emerged as a sleek and eye-friendly alternative to the traditional light mode.
This design concept transforms the bright background to a darker hue, which reduces eye strain and offers a visually appealing experience.
The popularity of dark mode has grown in recent years, with users embracing its chic aesthetic and potential health benefits.
According to recent stats, 82.7% of smartphone users use dark mode with the operating system. The stats further reveal that 64.4% of people expect websites to apply dark mode automatically.
According to a Medium survey, 70% of software engineers claim that dark mode makes it easier to code for a longer period.
In the digital age, standing out online is crucial. While a sleek dark mode design can certainly draw attention, the foundation of a captivating website lies in its visual and functional identity. This raises the important question: should you opt for a pre-built website template or invest in a custom website design?
Both options offer distinct advantages, but understanding the nuances of choosing between a template and custom web design will help you make the informed decision that best suits your needs.
Dark mode minimizes screen glare and harsh light, making it easier on the eyes. But with a custom website design, you can choose specific color palettes and contrast levels to further tailor the experience for optimal visual comfort.
This trend is not limited to specific age groups or demographics, making dark mode a universal choice. In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of dark mode in web design and ways to implement dark mode in your website.
Benefits of Dark Mode in Web Design
There are several benefits associated with implementing dark mode in web design; let us explore them in detail.
Reduced Eye Strain
Dark mode in web design provides a significant benefit by reducing eye strain. The dark background minimizes the amount of emitted light from screens, which is especially beneficial in low-light environments.
This contrast makes it more comfortable for users to read white or light text and enhances readability during a prolonged period. As a result, dark mode offers a visually soothing experience, contributing to a more pleasant and less straining interaction with websites.
Improved Visibility of Other Colors
Dark mode improves the visibility of other colors and makes them more prominent against a dark background.
This heightened contract enhances the overall visual experience to ensure that important elements and calls to action stand out effectively.
By reducing eye strain and offering a focused environment, dark more contributes to a more comfortable and user-friendly browsing experience.
This subtle yet impactful design choice can positively influence user engagement and interaction on a website.
Reduced Blue Light Exposure
Another advantage of dark mode in web design is that it lowers the amount of blue light emitted from screens.
Less blue light, especially at night, helps maintain better sleep patterns. Users who prefer browsing in the evening can choose dark mode to minimize potential disruptions to their sleep. It’s a simple and effective way to make websites more eye-friendly during nighttime use.
Accessibility
Dark mode in web design serves as a valuable accessibility feature, especially for users with visual impairments or light sensitivity.
The darker color scheme enhances the contrast between text and background, facilitating improved readability for individuals facing challenges in vision.
By reducing the intensity of bright lights, dark mode minimizes eye strain and discomfort, creating a more comfortable browsing experience. This inclusive design approach assures that people with various vision conditions can engage online more effectively.
Implementing dark mode as a web design option aligns with the principles of universal accessibility, promoting a user-friendly and considerate digital environment.
Aesthetic Appeal
Dark mode enhances aesthetic appeal by providing a modern and sleek look to the website and app. Its dark backgrounds create a sense of sophistication and elevate the overall visual experience for users.
Moreover, dark mode enables vibrant colors and images to stand out prominently and add a dynamic and engaging aspect to the design. This aesthetic enhancement pleases users and aligns with contemporary design trends.
It also contributes to a positive and visually pleasing user interface.
How To Implement Dark Mode on Your Website?
There are three ways to implement dark mode on your website; let us understand each in detail.
Toggling Themes
Toggling themes includes creating an alternative color scheme for users. Users can switch between light and dark themes based on their preferences.
To achieve this, you need to design two sets of color styles, one for the light theme and another for the dark theme.
You can use CSS to apply these styles dynamically and JavaScript to toggle between them. It would help if you also considered user accessibility by assuring text remains readable in both themes.
Also, offer a user-friendly option, such as a toggle button, for a seamless transition between the two themes on your website. An experienced web design company in Pickering can help you implement a toggling theme on your website.
Dark Mode at the Operating System Level
Dark mode at the operating system level is a design feature that changes the color scheme of the user interface to darker tones. This reduces eye strain in low-light environments and enhances visual comfort.
Operating systems like Android, iOS, and Windows have integrated dark mode options and allow users to enable it globally. To implement dark mode on a website, developers can use CSS media queries that detect the user’s operating system preferences.
By tailoring the website’s stylesheets based on these preferences, the user experience is smoothly aligned with the system-wide dark mode.
This ensures a consistent and user-friendly interface, adapting to users’ visual preferences and creating a cohesive experience across various platforms.
Storing a User’s Preference
To implement dark mode on your website, it is important to store a user’s preferences efficiently. You can start by creating a simple user settings database, which is associated with each user with a preference field.
When a user toggles dark mode, update this field. Use cookies or local storage to store the preferences on the client side to ensure consistency across visits.
Furthermore, incorporate a script to check this preference on page load to adjust the website’s theme accordingly.
Regularly update and refine this system based on user feedback for a seamless and user-friendly experience.
Examples of Websites That Use Dark Mode Effectively
Here are a few of the best examples of websites that have successfully implemented dark mode and are offering a visually appealing experience to their users.
Spotify
Spotify, a popular music streaming service, effectively employed dark mode on its website. The background is dark to reduce eye strain and create a visually pleasing experience.
The contrast with bright text and vibrant album covers enhances readability and draws attention to important elements.
The overall aesthetic is sleek and modern to offer a seamless and enjoyable browsing and listening experience, especially in low-light environments.
Dark mode on Spotify not only looks stylish but also contributes to a user-friendly interface.
Reddit’s dark mode is loved by users for its eye-friendly design, making reading enjoyable. The dark background minimizes eye strain to enhance the overall browsing experience.
Users appreciate the sleek and modern look that creates a visually appealing interface. The contrast between text and background improves readability, especially in low-light settings.
Overall, Reddit’s effective use of dark mode showcases its commitment to user comfort and accessibility.
Slack
Slack provides dark mode and is popular for its eye and user-friendly benefits. The dark background reduces eye strain during extended work periods and promotes a more comfortable and focused user experience.
Its widespread adoption attests to its effectiveness in enhancing readability and minimizing screen glare.
Navigating through channels and messages becomes smoother with the contrasting light text on a dark canvas.
WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp Web features a dark mode that aligns with the mobile app’s aesthetic to ensure a uniform experience.
The dark mode reduces eye strain and enhances readability in low-light settings. The subdued color scheme creates a sleek and modern look to reduce screen glare.
Users can seamlessly transition between the mobile and web versions, enjoying a cohesive design. This effective use of dark mode enhances users’ comfort and visual appeal on the WhatsApp platform.
Final Words
Lastly, dark mode in web design provides a stylish and functional trend that enhances user experience.
Its sleek aesthetic looks modern and reduces eye strain, making prolonged screen time more comfortable.
With the rising popularity of dark mode across various platforms, web designers are recognizing its appeal and integrating it into their interfaces.