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HTML Guide

CSS: “background-color”: Lexical error at line L, column C. Encountered: ";" (59), after : "#".

This error typically occurs when there is a syntax issue in the CSS code for the background-color property in your HTML or CSS file. The error message indicates that there is an unexpected semicolon (;) after the # symbol, which is commonly used to define hexadecimal color values.

Here is a step-by-step guide to fix this issue:

  1. Locate the Error:

    • Look for the line and column in your code as specified by the validator. This is where the error is occurring.
  2. Identify the Issue:

    • Check the background-color property at that location. It’s likely that you have a semicolon directly after the # or an invalid color value.
  3. Correct the Syntax:

    • Ensure that the background-color property is followed by a valid hexadecimal color value, an RGB/RGBA value, an HSL/HSLA value, or a predefined color keyword.

Example of Error

Let’s say you have the following erroneous CSS code:

body {
    background-color: #; /* Incorrect */
}

The above code is incorrect because #; is not a valid color value.

Corrected Example

Here’s how to fix it by providing a valid hexadecimal color value:

body {
    background-color: #ffffff; /* Correct: Hexadecimal color for white */
}

Alternatively, you can also use other color formats or color keywords. Examples:

body {
    background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); /* RGB color */
}

body {
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); /* RGBA color */
}

body {
    background-color: hsl(0, 0%, 100%); /* HSL color */
}

body {
    background-color: hsla(0, 0%, 100%, 1); /* HSLA color */
}

body {
    background-color: white; /* Predefined color keyword */
}

Related W3C validator issues