Constants
A constant is a reusable design decision expressed as a property-value pair. Constants are threaded throughout MDS components to maintain a consistent visual style and are available for use by product teams.
About Constants
Constants include not just official System Colors, but how color is predictably applied to backgrounds, text, and borders in specific settings. Similarly, engineers are not limited to generic spacer values, but can instead compose components more intentionally with Space insets, stack values, and other choices.
Constants as Data and Variables
Constants are managed in dist/src/constants.yaml, using YAML syntax to encode property-value pairs with a hierarchy.
The MDS build process transforms constants.yaml into additional generated files for use within this System site and by those using MDS:
dist/src/scripts/mds_constants.json
to automate documentation produced by MDS documentation templates.dist/src/styles/auto_generated/_constants.scss
used by MDS components (indist/src/styles/[component-name]), and for product teams when composing custom styles.
Constants in MDS Components
Constants are used throughout the MDS library. For example, the Pagination component style in dist/src/styles/pagination/pagination.scss includes constants for border color, text color, font family and font size:
border: $mds-border-control-default;
color: $mds-text-color-primary-default;
font-family: $mds-font-family-sans-serif;
font-size: $mds-font-size-s;All components are built with and reviewed for appropriate constant use.
Styling Custom Components With Constants
A product team may want to adopt the Morningstar visual language but has limited or no bandwidth to change HTML markup within their product. In this case, a product team can apply MDS constants using SASS variables by following these steps:
- Integrate a dependency on
dist/src/styles/auto_generated/_constants.scsswithin their style compilation, enabling access to constants as variables within a product’s environment. - Apply constants to components and features developed within their product.
For example, consider a module repeated across a view. If a team wanted to update the module’s header (div.layout__header), but were unable to modify the markup, they could apply constants as SASS variables to update only CSS.
Existing Markup
<div class=”layout__component”>
<div class=”layout__header”> </div>
<div class=”layout__component-wrapper”> </div>
</div>Existing Style
.layout__header {
background-color: #ccc;
border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.02);
}Revised Style, With Constants
.layout__header {
background-color: $mds-background-color-light;
border-bottom: $mds-border-separator-default;
}Editing and Proposing Constants
Constants are managed by MDS designers in collaboration with the Morningstar design community. We add constants conservatively. Please be prepared to justify the addition of a constant by showing how it would be used across many MDS components. To request extensions or changes to the constants, email [email protected].
Current Constants
Border
See the Borders page for guidelines on constant use.
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-border-separator-default | solid 1px #e5e5e5 |
| $mds-border-separator-on-light | solid 1px #cccccc |
| $mds-border-separator-on-dark | solid 1px #333333 |
| $mds-border-separator-on-title | solid 2px #333333 |
| $mds-border-separator-color-on-light |
#cccccc
|
| $mds-border-separator-color-on-dark |
#333333
|
| $mds-border-control-default | solid 1px #808080 |
| $mds-border-control-color |
#808080
|
| $mds-border-container-default | solid 1px #e5e5e5 |
| $mds-border-container-color-default |
#e5e5e5
|
| $mds-border-disabled | solid 1px #808080 |
| $mds-border-radius-panel | 12px |
| $mds-border-radius-pill | 24px |
| $mds-border-radius-round | 50% |
| $mds-border-radius-s | 2px |
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-background-color-default |
#ffffff
|
| $mds-background-color-light |
#f2f2f2
|
| $mds-background-color-dark |
#1e1e1e
|
| $mds-background-color-black |
#000000
|
| $mds-background-color-alternative-row-default |
#e5e5e5
|
| $mds-background-color-alternative-row-on-light |
#e5e5e5
|
| $mds-background-color-alternative-row-on-dark |
#333333
|
| $mds-background-color-feedback-error |
#ff0000
|
| $mds-background-color-feedback-warning |
#f5c400
|
Text
See the Text section of the Color page for guidelines on constant use.
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-text-color-primary-default |
#1e1e1e
|
| $mds-text-color-primary-on-light |
#1e1e1e
|
| $mds-text-color-primary-on-dark |
#ffffff
|
| $mds-text-color-secondary-default |
#5e5e5e
|
| $mds-text-color-secondary-on-light |
#5e5e5e
|
| $mds-text-color-secondary-on-dark |
#ababab
|
| $mds-text-color-link-default |
#006fba
|
| $mds-text-color-link-on-light |
#006fba
|
| $mds-text-color-link-on-dark |
#008dde
|
| $mds-text-color-error-default |
#ff0000
|
| $mds-text-color-error-on-light |
#ff0000
|
| $mds-text-color-error-on-dark |
#ff0000
|
Interactive
See the Interactive section of the Color page for guidelines on constant use.
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-interactive-color-primary-default |
#0077cf
|
| $mds-interactive-color-primary-hover |
#005ba1
|
| $mds-interactive-color-primary-focus |
#005ba1
|
| $mds-interactive-color-primary-active |
#004376
|
| $mds-interactive-color-secondary-primary | transparent |
| $mds-interactive-color-secondary-hover |
#5e5e5e
|
| $mds-interactive-color-secondary-focus |
#5e5e5e
|
| $mds-interactive-color-secondary-active-on-light |
#333333
|
| $mds-interactive-color-secondary-active-on-dark |
#e5e5e5
|
| $mds-interactive-color-disabled-on-light |
#808080
|
| $mds-interactive-color-disabled-on-dark |
#ababab
|
Visualization
See the Color section of the Charts Visual Language page for guidelines on constant use.
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-visualization-color-asset-allocation-local-stocks Deprecated * |
#1f55a5
|
| $mds-visualization-color-asset-allocation-non-local-stocks Deprecated * |
#8faad2
|
| $mds-visualization-color-asset-allocation-stocks |
#1f55a5
|
| $mds-visualization-color-asset-allocation-real-estate |
#a50032
|
| $mds-visualization-color-asset-allocation-other |
#f5c400
|
| $mds-visualization-color-asset-allocation-cash |
#518428
|
| $mds-visualization-color-asset-allocation-bonds |
#ef7622
|
| $mds-visualization-color-asset-allocation-not-classified |
#e5e5e5
|
| $mds-visualization-color-correlation-positive |
#1f55a5
|
| $mds-visualization-color-correlation-negative |
#ef7622
|
| $mds-visualization-color-sector-cyclical |
#ef7622
|
| $mds-visualization-color-sector-sensitive |
#1f55a5
|
| $mds-visualization-color-sector-defensive |
#518428
|
| $mds-visualization-color-sustainability |
#1f55a5
|
| $mds-visualization-color-valuation-under |
#00a8e1
|
| $mds-visualization-color-valuation-fair |
#e5efef
|
| $mds-visualization-color-valuation-over |
#ef7622
|
| $mds-visualization-color-performance-positive |
#00af41
|
| $mds-visualization-color-performance-neutral-text |
#5e5e5e
|
| $mds-visualization-color-performance-neutral-chart |
#cccccc
|
| $mds-visualization-color-performance-negative |
#ff0000
|
* Do not use, these constants will be removed in 2.0.0.
Chart
See the Chart section of the Charts Visual Language page for guidelines on constant use.
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-chart-color-1 |
#1f55a5
|
| $mds-chart-color-2 |
#a50032
|
| $mds-chart-color-3 |
#f5c400
|
| $mds-chart-color-4 |
#518428
|
| $mds-chart-color-5 |
#00a8e1
|
| $mds-chart-color-6 |
#6a4c9e
|
| $mds-chart-color-7 |
#ef7622
|
| $mds-chart-color-8 |
#005f5f
|
| $mds-chart-color-9 |
#00af41
|
| $mds-chart-color-10 |
#e60546
|
| $mds-chart-color-11 |
#7d256f
|
| $mds-chart-color-12 |
#c19c31
|
| $mds-chart-color-13 |
#00beaf
|
| $mds-chart-color-14 |
#ff3c00
|
| $mds-chart-color-15 |
#89bd40
|
Generic
See the Generic section of the Color page for guidelines on constant use.
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-color-white |
#ffffff
|
| $mds-color-black |
#000000
|
| $mds-color-neutral-12 |
#1e1e1e
|
| $mds-color-neutral-20 |
#333333
|
| $mds-color-neutral-37 |
#5e5e5e
|
| $mds-color-neutral-50 |
#808080
|
| $mds-color-neutral-67 |
#ababab
|
| $mds-color-neutral-80 |
#cccccc
|
| $mds-color-neutral-90 |
#e5e5e5
|
| $mds-color-neutral-95 |
#f2f2f2
|
| $mds-color-blue-23 |
#004376
|
| $mds-color-blue-32 |
#005ba1
|
| $mds-color-blue-36 |
#006fba
|
| $mds-color-blue-38 |
#1f55a5
|
| $mds-color-blue-41 |
#0077cf
|
| $mds-color-blue-44 |
#008dde
|
| $mds-color-green-34 |
#00af41
|
| $mds-color-dark-green-34 |
#518428
|
| $mds-color-teal-19 |
#005f5f
|
| $mds-color-violet-46 |
#6a4c9e
|
| $mds-color-cyan-44 |
#00a8e1
|
| $mds-color-maroon-32 |
#a50032
|
| $mds-color-red-50 |
#ff0000
|
| $mds-color-yellow-48 |
#f5c400
|
| $mds-color-orange-54 |
#ef7622
|
| $mds-color-light-red-46 |
#e60546
|
| $mds-color-dark-violet-32 |
#7d256f
|
| $mds-color-dark-yellow-47 |
#c19c31
|
| $mds-color-aqua-37 |
#00beaf
|
| $mds-color-bright-orange-50 |
#ff3c00
|
| $mds-color-light-green-50 |
#89bd40
|
Font
See the Typography page for guidelines on constant use.
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-font-family-sans-serif | 'Univers', HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif |
| $mds-font-family-monospace | 'Lucida Sans Typewriter', 'Lucida Console', monaco, 'Bitstream Vera Sans Mono', monospace |
| $mds-font-weight-thin | 200 |
| $mds-font-weight-light | 300 |
| $mds-font-weight-regular | 400 |
| $mds-font-weight-bold | 600 |
| $mds-font-size-xs | 10px |
| $mds-font-size-s | 14px |
| $mds-font-size-m | 16px |
| $mds-font-size-l | 20px |
| $mds-font-size-base Deprecated * | 16px |
| $mds-font-size-default Deprecated * | 16px |
| $mds-font-size-heading-level-1 | 45px |
| $mds-font-size-heading-level-2 | 32px |
| $mds-font-size-heading-level-3 | 28px |
| $mds-font-size-heading-level-4 | 23px |
| $mds-font-size-heading-level-5 | 20px |
| $mds-font-size-heading-level-6 | 18px |
| $mds-font-size-code | 12px |
| $mds-font-line-height-headings | 1.2 |
| $mds-font-line-height-body | 1.375 |
* Do not use, these constants will be removed in 2.0.0.
Layering
See the Layering page for guidelines on constant use.
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-z-index-low | 1 |
| $mds-z-index-sticky | 100 |
| $mds-z-index-modal-overlay | 800 |
| $mds-z-index-modal-content | 810 |
| $mds-z-index-top-of-the-world | 900 |
Opacity
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-opacity-disabled | .4 |
| $mds-opacity-overlay | .5 |
Shadow
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-box-shadow-drop | 0 2px 4px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, .08) |
| $mds-box-shadow-focus | 0 0 4px 2px rgba(#0077cf, .8) |
Size
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-size-icon-s | 15px |
| $mds-size-icon-m | 23px |
Space
See the Space page for guidelines on constant use.
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-space-xs Deprecated * | 4px |
| $mds-space-s Deprecated * | 6px |
| $mds-space-m Deprecated * | 8px |
| $mds-space-l Deprecated * | 12px |
| $mds-space-xl Deprecated * | 16px |
| $mds-space-quarter-x | 2px |
| $mds-space-half-x | 4px |
| $mds-space-three-quarter-x | 6px |
| $mds-space-1-x | 8px |
| $mds-space-1-and-a-half-x | 12px |
| $mds-space-2-x | 16px |
| $mds-space-3-x | 24px |
| $mds-space-4-x | 32px |
| $mds-space-8-x | 64px |
| $mds-space-inset-xs Deprecated * | 4px |
| $mds-space-inset-s Deprecated * | 6px |
| $mds-space-inset-m Deprecated * | 8px |
| $mds-space-inset-l Deprecated * | 12px |
| $mds-space-inset-xl Deprecated * | 16px |
| $mds-space-inset-quarter-x | 2px |
| $mds-space-inset-half-x | 4px |
| $mds-space-inset-three-quarter-x | 6px |
| $mds-space-inset-1-x | 8px |
| $mds-space-inset-1-and-a-half-x | 12px |
| $mds-space-inset-2-x | 16px |
| $mds-space-inset-3-x | 24px |
| $mds-space-inset-4-x | 32px |
| $mds-space-inset-8-x | 64px |
| $mds-space-inset-stretch-s | 6px 12px |
| $mds-space-inset-stretch-m | 8px 16px |
| $mds-space-inset-stretch-l | 12px 24px |
| $mds-space-inline-left-xs Deprecated * | 0 4px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-left-s Deprecated * | 0 6px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-left-m Deprecated * | 0 8px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-left-l Deprecated * | 0 12px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-left-xl Deprecated * | 0 16px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-left-half-x | 0 4px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-left-three-quarter-x | 0 6px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-left-1-x | 0 8px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-left-1-and-a-half-x | 0 12px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-left-2-x | 0 16px 0 0 |
| $mds-space-inline-right-xs Deprecated * | 0 0 0 4px |
| $mds-space-inline-right-s Deprecated * | 0 0 0 6px |
| $mds-space-inline-right-m Deprecated * | 0 0 0 8px |
| $mds-space-inline-right-l Deprecated * | 0 0 0 12px |
| $mds-space-inline-right-xl Deprecated * | 0 0 0 16px |
| $mds-space-inline-right-half-x | 0 0 0 4px |
| $mds-space-inline-right-three-quarter-x | 0 0 0 6px |
| $mds-space-inline-right-1-x | 0 0 0 8px |
| $mds-space-inline-right-1-and-a-half-x | 0 0 0 12px |
| $mds-space-inline-right-2-x | 0 0 0 16px |
| $mds-space-stack-s Deprecated * | 0 0 6px |
| $mds-space-stack-m Deprecated * | 0 0 8px |
| $mds-space-stack-l Deprecated * | 0 0 12px |
| $mds-space-stack-xl Deprecated * | 0 0 16px |
| $mds-space-stack-quarter-x | 0 0 2px |
| $mds-space-stack-half-x | 0 0 4px |
| $mds-space-stack-three-quarter-x | 0 0 6px |
| $mds-space-stack-1-x | 0 0 8px |
| $mds-space-stack-1-and-a-half-x | 0 0 12px |
| $mds-space-stack-2-x | 0 0 16px |
| $mds-space-stack-3-x | 0 0 24px |
| $mds-space-stack-4-x | 0 0 32px |
| $mds-space-stack-8-x | 0 0 64px |
* Do not use, these constants will be removed in 2.0.0.
Transition
| Variable Name | Value |
|---|---|
| $mds-transition-color-link | color, 300ms |