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The color white, while rare in nature, strikes a strange chord in the human psyche. In Western cultures, white symbolizes life and purity. It is used in baptisms and marriages, two ceremonies which celebrate the beginning of something. However, it has another implication: sterility. White is the color of hospital sheets, of sanitarium walls, of bleached fabric. Thus, its deeper significance stems from the absence of color, which can have both positive and negative connotations.
If used thoughtfully, white can be very effective in web design. It is also the default background color, which means it is not used thoughtfully very often. A white background with black text is clean and unassuming. Nobody will stop to admire it, but it is a safe choice that won’t distract the user or prove hard on the eyes. White is also useful for creating contrast with a dark element.