HSL to RGB color conversion

Garry Tan posted a Javascript solution on his blog (which he attributes to a now defunct mjijackson.com, but is archived here and the original author has a gist - thanks to user2441511).

The code is re-posted below:

HSL to RGB:

/**
 * Converts an HSL color value to RGB. Conversion formula
 * adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSL_color_space.
 * Assumes h, s, and l are contained in the set [0, 1] and
 * returns r, g, and b in the set [0, 255].
 *
 * @param   {number}  h       The hue
 * @param   {number}  s       The saturation
 * @param   {number}  l       The lightness
 * @return  {Array}           The RGB representation
 */
function hslToRgb(h, s, l){
    var r, g, b;

    if(s == 0){
        r = g = b = l; // achromatic
    }else{
        var hue2rgb = function hue2rgb(p, q, t){
            if(t < 0) t += 1;
            if(t > 1) t -= 1;
            if(t < 1/6) return p + (q - p) * 6 * t;
            if(t < 1/2) return q;
            if(t < 2/3) return p + (q - p) * (2/3 - t) * 6;
            return p;
        }

        var q = l < 0.5 ? l * (1 + s) : l + s - l * s;
        var p = 2 * l - q;
        r = hue2rgb(p, q, h + 1/3);
        g = hue2rgb(p, q, h);
        b = hue2rgb(p, q, h - 1/3);
    }

    return [Math.round(r * 255), Math.round(g * 255), Math.round(b * 255)];
}

RGB to HSL:

/**
 * Converts an RGB color value to HSL. Conversion formula
 * adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSL_color_space.
 * Assumes r, g, and b are contained in the set [0, 255] and
 * returns h, s, and l in the set [0, 1].
 *
 * @param   {number}  r       The red color value
 * @param   {number}  g       The green color value
 * @param   {number}  b       The blue color value
 * @return  {Array}           The HSL representation
 */
function rgbToHsl(r, g, b){
    r /= 255, g /= 255, b /= 255;
    var max = Math.max(r, g, b), min = Math.min(r, g, b);
    var h, s, l = (max + min) / 2;

    if(max == min){
        h = s = 0; // achromatic
    }else{
        var d = max - min;
        s = l > 0.5 ? d / (2 - max - min) : d / (max + min);
        switch(max){
            case r: h = (g - b) / d + (g < b ? 6 : 0); break;
            case g: h = (b - r) / d + 2; break;
            case b: h = (r - g) / d + 4; break;
        }
        h /= 6;
    }

    return [h, s, l];
}

Found the easiest way, python to the rescue :D

colorsys.hls_to_rgb(h, l, s) Convert the color from HLS coordinates to RGB coordinates.

Java implementation of Mohsen's code

Note that all integer are declared as float (i.e 1f) and must be float, else you will optain grey colors.

HSL to RGB

 /**
 * Converts an HSL color value to RGB. Conversion formula
 * adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSL_color_space.
 * Assumes h, s, and l are contained in the set [0, 1] and
 * returns r, g, and b in the set [0, 255].
 *
 * @param h       The hue
 * @param s       The saturation
 * @param l       The lightness
 * @return int array, the RGB representation
 */
public static int[] hslToRgb(float h, float s, float l){
    float r, g, b;

    if (s == 0f) {
        r = g = b = l; // achromatic
    } else {
        float q = l < 0.5f ? l * (1 + s) : l + s - l * s;
        float p = 2 * l - q;
        r = hueToRgb(p, q, h + 1f/3f);
        g = hueToRgb(p, q, h);
        b = hueToRgb(p, q, h - 1f/3f);
    }
    int[] rgb = {to255(r), to255(g), to255(b)};
    return rgb;
}
public static int to255(float v) { return (int)Math.min(255,256*v); }

/** Helper method that converts hue to rgb */
public static float hueToRgb(float p, float q, float t) {
    if (t < 0f)
        t += 1f;
    if (t > 1f)
        t -= 1f;
    if (t < 1f/6f)
        return p + (q - p) * 6f * t;
    if (t < 1f/2f)
        return q;
    if (t < 2f/3f)
        return p + (q - p) * (2f/3f - t) * 6f;
    return p;
}

RGB to HSL

/**
 * Converts an RGB color value to HSL. Conversion formula
 * adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSL_color_space.
 * Assumes pR, pG, and bpBare contained in the set [0, 255] and
 * returns h, s, and l in the set [0, 1].
 *
 * @param pR       The red color value
 * @param pG       The green color value
 * @param pB       The blue color value
 * @return float array, the HSL representation
 */
public static float[] rgbToHsl(int pR, int pG, int pB) {
    float r = pR / 255f;
    float g = pG / 255f;
    float b = pB / 255f;

    float max = (r > g && r > b) ? r : (g > b) ? g : b;
    float min = (r < g && r < b) ? r : (g < b) ? g : b;

    float h, s, l;
    l = (max + min) / 2.0f;

    if (max == min) {
        h = s = 0.0f;
    } else {
        float d = max - min;
        s = (l > 0.5f) ? d / (2.0f - max - min) : d / (max + min);

        if (r > g && r > b)
            h = (g - b) / d + (g < b ? 6.0f : 0.0f);

        else if (g > b)
            h = (b - r) / d + 2.0f;

        else
            h = (r - g) / d + 4.0f;

        h /= 6.0f;
    }

    float[] hsl = {h, s, l};
    return hsl;
}

The article for HSL and HSV on wikipedia contains some formulas. The calculations are a bit tricky, so it might be useful to take a look at existing implementations.

If you're looking for something that definitely conforms with the CSS semantics for HSL and RGB, you could use the algorithm specified in the CSS 3 specification, which reads:

HOW TO RETURN hsl.to.rgb(h, s, l): 
   SELECT: 
      l<=0.5: PUT l*(s+1) IN m2
      ELSE: PUT l+s-l*s IN m2
   PUT l*2-m2 IN m1
   PUT hue.to.rgb(m1, m2, h+1/3) IN r
   PUT hue.to.rgb(m1, m2, h    ) IN g
   PUT hue.to.rgb(m1, m2, h-1/3) IN b
   RETURN (r, g, b)

HOW TO RETURN hue.to.rgb(m1, m2, h): 
   IF h<0: PUT h+1 IN h
   IF h>1: PUT h-1 IN h
   IF h*6<1: RETURN m1+(m2-m1)*h*6
   IF h*2<1: RETURN m2
   IF h*3<2: RETURN m1+(m2-m1)*(2/3-h)*6
   RETURN m1

I believe this is the source for some of the other answers here.

Short but precise - JS

Use this JS code (more: rgb2hsl, hsv2rgb rgb2hsv and hsl2hsv) - php version here

// input: h as an angle in [0,360] and s,l in [0,1] - output: r,g,b in [0,1]
function hsl2rgb(h,s,l) 
{
   let a=s*Math.min(l,1-l);
   let f= (n,k=(n+h/30)%12) => l - a*Math.max(Math.min(k-3,9-k,1),-1);
   return [f(0),f(8),f(4)];
}   

// oneliner version let hsl2rgb = (h,s,l, a=s*Math.min(l,1-l), f= (n,k=(n+h/30)%12) => l - a*Math.max(Math.min(k-3,9-k,1),-1)) => [f(0),f(8),f(4)]; // r,g,b are in [0-1], result e.g. #0812fa. let rgb2hex = (r,g,b) => "#" + [r,g,b].map(x=>Math.round(x*255).toString(16).padStart(2,0) ).join(''); console.log(`hsl: (30,0.2,0.3) --> rgb: (${hsl2rgb(30,0.2,0.3)}) --> hex: ${rgb2hex(...hsl2rgb(30,0.2,0.3))}`); // --------------- // UX // --------------- rgb= [0,0,0]; hs= [0,0,0]; let $ = x => document.querySelector(x); function changeRGB(i,e) { rgb[i]=e.target.value/255; hs = rgb2hsl(...rgb); refresh(); } function changeHS(i,e) { hs[i]=e.target.value/(i?255:1); rgb= hsl2rgb(...hs); refresh(); } function refresh() { rr = rgb.map(x=>x*255|0).join(', ') hh = rgb2hex(...rgb); tr = `RGB: ${rr}` th = `HSL: ${hs.map((x,i)=>i? (x*100).toFixed(2)+'%':x|0).join(', ')}` thh= `HEX: ${hh}` $('.box').style.backgroundColor=`rgb(${rr})`; $('.infoRGB').innerHTML=`${tr}`; $('.infoHS').innerHTML =`${th}\n${thh}`; $('#r').value=rgb[0]*255; $('#g').value=rgb[1]*255; $('#b').value=rgb[2]*255; $('#h').value=hs[0]; $('#s').value=hs[1]*255; $('#l').value=hs[2]*255; } function rgb2hsl(r,g,b) { let a=Math.max(r,g,b), n=a-Math.min(r,g,b), f=(1-Math.abs(a+a-n-1)); let h= n && ((a==r) ? (g-b)/n : ((a==g) ? 2+(b-r)/n : 4+(r-g)/n)); return [60*(h<0?h+6:h), f ? n/f : 0, (a+a-n)/2]; } refresh(); .box { width: 50px; height: 50px; margin: 20px; } body { display: flex; }

Here is formula which I discover and precisely describe in wiki + error analysis,

https://i.stack.imgur.com/N46A2.png

C# Code from Mohsen's answer.

Here is the code from Mohsen's answer in C# if anyone else wants it. Note: Color is a custom class and Vector4 is from OpenTK. Both are easy to replace with something else of your choosing.

Hsl To Rgba

/// <summary>
/// Converts an HSL color value to RGB.
/// Input: Vector4 ( X: [0.0, 1.0], Y: [0.0, 1.0], Z: [0.0, 1.0], W: [0.0, 1.0] )
/// Output: Color ( R: [0, 255], G: [0, 255], B: [0, 255], A: [0, 255] )
/// </summary>
/// <param name="hsl">Vector4 defining X = h, Y = s, Z = l, W = a. Ranges [0, 1.0]</param>
/// <returns>RGBA Color. Ranges [0, 255]</returns>
public static Color HslToRgba(Vector4 hsl)
{
    float r, g, b;

    if (hsl.Y == 0.0f)
        r = g = b = hsl.Z;

    else
    {
        var q = hsl.Z < 0.5f ? hsl.Z * (1.0f + hsl.Y) : hsl.Z + hsl.Y - hsl.Z * hsl.Y;
        var p = 2.0f * hsl.Z - q;
        r = HueToRgb(p, q, hsl.X + 1.0f / 3.0f);
        g = HueToRgb(p, q, hsl.X);
        b = HueToRgb(p, q, hsl.X - 1.0f / 3.0f);
    }

    return new Color((int)(r * 255), (int)(g * 255), (int)(b * 255), (int)(hsl.W * 255));
}

// Helper for HslToRgba
private static float HueToRgb(float p, float q, float t)
{
    if (t < 0.0f) t += 1.0f;
    if (t > 1.0f) t -= 1.0f;
    if (t < 1.0f / 6.0f) return p + (q - p) * 6.0f * t;
    if (t < 1.0f / 2.0f) return q;
    if (t < 2.0f / 3.0f) return p + (q - p) * (2.0f / 3.0f - t) * 6.0f;
    return p;
}

Rgba To Hsl

/// <summary>
/// Converts an RGB color value to HSL.
/// Input: Color ( R: [0, 255], G: [0, 255], B: [0, 255], A: [0, 255] )
/// Output: Vector4 ( X: [0.0, 1.0], Y: [0.0, 1.0], Z: [0.0, 1.0], W: [0.0, 1.0] )
/// </summary>
/// <param name="rgba"></param>
/// <returns></returns>
public static Vector4 RgbaToHsl(Color rgba)
{
    float r = rgba.R / 255.0f;
    float g = rgba.G / 255.0f;
    float b = rgba.B / 255.0f;

    float max = (r > g && r > b) ? r : (g > b) ? g : b;
    float min = (r < g && r < b) ? r : (g < b) ? g : b;

    float h, s, l;
    h = s = l = (max + min) / 2.0f;

    if (max == min)
        h = s = 0.0f;

    else
    {
        float d = max - min;
        s = (l > 0.5f) ? d / (2.0f - max - min) : d / (max + min);

        if (r > g && r > b)
            h = (g - b) / d + (g < b ? 6.0f : 0.0f);

        else if (g > b)
            h = (b - r) / d + 2.0f;

        else
            h = (r - g) / d + 4.0f;

        h /= 6.0f;
    }

    return new Vector4(h, s, l, rgba.A / 255.0f);
}

Php Implementation of Chris's C# Code

Also from here, which explains the math of it very well.

This is basically a bunch of functions to convert to and from HSL (Hue Saturation Lightness)

Tested and working on PHP 5.6.15

TL;DR: The full code can be found here on Pastebin.

Hex to HSL

Input: Hex color in format: [#]0f4 or [#]00ff44 (pound sign optional) Output: HSL in Degrees, Percent, Percent

/**
 * Input: hex color
 * Output: hsl(in ranges from 0-1)
 * 
 * Takes the hex, converts it to RGB, and sends
 * it to RGBToHsl.  Returns the output.
 * 
*/
function hexToHsl($hex) {
    $r = "";
    $g = "";
    $b = "";

    $hex = str_replace('#', '', $hex);

    if (strlen($hex) == 3) {
        $r = substr($hex, 0, 1);
        $r = $r . $r;
        $g = substr($hex, 1, 1);
        $g = $g . $g;
        $b = substr($hex, 2, 1);
        $b = $b . $b;
    } elseif (strlen($hex) == 6) {
        $r = substr($hex, 0, 2);
        $g = substr($hex, 2, 2);
        $b = substr($hex, 4, 2);
    } else {
        return false;
    }

    $r = hexdec($r);
    $g = hexdec($g);
    $b = hexdec($b);

    $hsl =  rgbToHsl($r,$g,$b);
    return $hsl;
}

RGB to HSL

Input: RGB in range 0-255 Output: HSL in Degrees, Percent, Percent.

/**
 * 
 *Credits:
 * https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4793729/rgb-to-hsl-and-back-calculation-problems
 * http://www.niwa.nu/2013/05/math-behind-colorspace-conversions-rgb-hsl/
 *
 * Called by hexToHsl by default.
 *
 * Converts an RGB color value to HSL. Conversion formula
 * adapted from http://www.niwa.nu/2013/05/math-behind-colorspace-conversions-rgb-hsl/.
 * Assumes r, g, and b are contained in the range [0 - 255] and
 * returns h, s, and l in the format Degrees, Percent, Percent.
 *
 * @param   Number  r       The red color value
 * @param   Number  g       The green color value
 * @param   Number  b       The blue color value
 * @return  Array           The HSL representation
*/
function rgbToHsl($r, $g, $b){  
    //For the calculation, rgb needs to be in the range from 0 to 1. To convert, divide by 255 (ff). 
    $r /= 255;
    $g /= 255;
    $b /= 255;

    $myMax = max($r, $g, $b);
    $myMin = min($r, $g, $b);

    $maxAdd = ($myMax + $myMin);
    $maxSub = ($myMax - $myMin);

    //luminence is (max + min)/2
    $h = 0;
    $s = 0;
    $l = ($maxAdd / 2.0);

    //if all the numbers are equal, there is no saturation (greyscale).
    if($myMin != $myMax){
        if ($l < 0.5) {
            $s = ($maxSub / $maxAdd);
        } else {
            $s = (2.0 - $myMax - $myMin); //note order of opperations - can't use $maxSub here
            $s = ($maxSub / $s);
        }

        //find hue
        switch($myMax){
            case $r: 
                $h = ($g - $b);
                $h = ($h / $maxSub);
                break;
            case $g: 
                $h = ($b - $r); 
                $h = ($h / $maxSub);
                $h = ($h + 2.0);
                break;
            case $b: 
                $h = ($r - $g);
                $h = ($h / $maxSub); 
                $h = ($h + 4.0);
                break;
        } 
    }

    $hsl = hslToDegPercPerc($h, $s, $l);
    return $hsl;
}

HSL (0-1 range) to Degrees, Percent, Percent format

For the math calculations, HSL is easier to deal with in the 0-1 range, but for human readability, it's easier in Degrees, Percent, Percent. This function takes HSL in the ranges 0-1, and returns HSL in Degrees, Percent, Percent.

/**
 * Input: HSL in ranges 0-1.
 * Output: HSL in format Deg, Perc, Perc.
 * 
 * Note: rgbToHsl calls this function by default.
 * 
 * Multiplies $h by 60, and $s and $l by 100.
 */
function hslToDegPercPerc($h, $s, $l) {
    //convert h to degrees
    $h *= 60;

    if ($h < 0) {
        $h += 360;
    }

    //convert s and l to percentage
    $s *= 100;
    $l *= 100;

    $hsl['h'] = $h;
    $hsl['s'] = $s;
    $hsl['l'] = $l;
    return $hsl;
}

HSL (Degrees, Percent, Percent format) to HSL in range 0-1

This function converts HSL in the format Degrees, Percent, Percent, to the ranges 0-1 for easier computing.

/**
 * Input: HSL in format Deg, Perc, Perc
 * Output: An array containing HSL in ranges 0-1
 * 
 * Divides $h by 60, and $s and $l by 100.
 * 
 * hslToRgb calls this by default.
*/
function degPercPercToHsl($h, $s, $l) { 
    //convert h, s, and l back to the 0-1 range

    //convert the hue's 360 degrees in a circle to 1
    $h /= 360;

    //convert the saturation and lightness to the 0-1 
    //range by multiplying by 100
    $s /= 100;
    $l /= 100;

    $hsl['h'] =  $h;
    $hsl['s'] = $s;
    $hsl['l'] = $l;

    return $hsl;
}

HSL to RGB

Input: HSL in the format Degrees, Percent, Percent Output: RGB in the format 255, 255, 255.

/**
 * Converts an HSL color value to RGB. Conversion formula
 * adapted from http://www.niwa.nu/2013/05/math-behind-colorspace-conversions-rgb-hsl/.
 * Assumes h, s, and l are in the format Degrees,
 * Percent, Percent, and returns r, g, and b in 
 * the range [0 - 255].
 *
 * Called by hslToHex by default.
 *
 * Calls: 
 *   degPercPercToHsl
 *   hueToRgb
 *
 * @param   Number  h       The hue value
 * @param   Number  s       The saturation level
 * @param   Number  l       The luminence
 * @return  Array           The RGB representation
 */
function hslToRgb($h, $s, $l){
    $hsl = degPercPercToHsl($h, $s, $l);
    $h = $hsl['h'];
    $s = $hsl['s'];
    $l = $hsl['l'];

    //If there's no saturation, the color is a greyscale,
    //so all three RGB values can be set to the lightness.
    //(Hue doesn't matter, because it's grey, not color)
    if ($s == 0) {
        $r = $l * 255;
        $g = $l * 255;
        $b = $l * 255;
    }
    else {
        //calculate some temperary variables to make the 
        //calculation eaisier.
        if ($l < 0.5) {
            $temp2 = $l * (1 + $s);
        } else {
            $temp2 = ($l + $s) - ($s * $l);
        }
        $temp1 = 2 * $l - $temp2;

        //run the calculated vars through hueToRgb to
        //calculate the RGB value.  Note that for the Red
        //value, we add a third (120 degrees), to adjust 
        //the hue to the correct section of the circle for
        //red.  Simalarly, for blue, we subtract 1/3.
        $r = 255 * hueToRgb($temp1, $temp2, $h + (1 / 3));
        $g = 255 * hueToRgb($temp1, $temp2, $h);
        $b = 255 * hueToRgb($temp1, $temp2, $h - (1 / 3));
    }

    $rgb['r'] = $r;
    $rgb['g'] = $g;
    $rgb['b'] = $b;

    return $rgb;
}

Hue to RGB

This function is called by hslToRgb to convert the hue into the separate RGB values.

/**
 * Converts an HSL hue to it's RGB value.  
 *
 * Input: $temp1 and $temp2 - temperary vars based on 
 * whether the lumanence is less than 0.5, and 
 * calculated using the saturation and luminence
 * values.
 *  $hue - the hue (to be converted to an RGB 
 * value)  For red, add 1/3 to the hue, green 
 * leave it alone, and blue you subtract 1/3 
 * from the hue.
 *
 * Output: One RGB value.
 *
 * Thanks to Easy RGB for this function (Hue_2_RGB).
 * http://www.easyrgb.com/index.php?X=MATH&$h=19#text19
 *
*/
function hueToRgb($temp1, $temp2, $hue) {
    if ($hue < 0) { 
        $hue += 1;
    }
    if ($hue > 1) {
        $hue -= 1;
    }

    if ((6 * $hue) < 1 ) {
        return ($temp1 + ($temp2 - $temp1) * 6 * $hue);
    } elseif ((2 * $hue) < 1 ) {
        return $temp2;
    } elseif ((3 * $hue) < 2 ) {
        return ($temp1 + ($temp2 - $temp1) * ((2 / 3) - $hue) * 6);
    }
    return $temp1;
}

HSL to Hex

Input: HSL in format Degrees, Percent, Percent Output: Hex in format 00ff22 (no pound sign).

Converts to RGB, then converts separately to hex.

/**
 * Converts HSL to Hex by converting it to 
 * RGB, then converting that to hex.
 * 
 * string hslToHex($h, $s, $l[, $prependPound = true]
 * 
 * $h is the Degrees value of the Hue
 * $s is the Percentage value of the Saturation
 * $l is the Percentage value of the Lightness
 * $prependPound is a bool, whether you want a pound 
 *  sign prepended. (optional - default=true)
 *
 * Calls: 
 *   hslToRgb
 *
 * Output: Hex in the format: #00ff88 (with 
 * pound sign).  Rounded to the nearest whole
 * number.
*/
function hslToHex($h, $s, $l, $prependPound = true) {
    //convert hsl to rgb
    $rgb = hslToRgb($h,$s,$l);

    //convert rgb to hex
    $hexR = $rgb['r'];
    $hexG = $rgb['g'];
    $hexB = $rgb['b'];

    //round to the nearest whole number
    $hexR = round($hexR);
    $hexG = round($hexG);
    $hexB = round($hexB);

    //convert to hex
    $hexR = dechex($hexR);
    $hexG = dechex($hexG);
    $hexB = dechex($hexB);

    //check for a non-two string length
    //if it's 1, we can just prepend a
    //0, but if it is anything else non-2,
    //it must return false, as we don't 
    //know what format it is in.
    if (strlen($hexR) != 2) {
        if (strlen($hexR) == 1) {
            //probably in format #0f4, etc.
            $hexR = "0" . $hexR;
        } else {
            //unknown format
            return false;
        }
    }
    if (strlen($hexG) != 2) {
        if (strlen($hexG) == 1) {
            $hexG = "0" . $hexG;
        } else {
            return false;
        }
    }
    if (strlen($hexB) != 2) {
        if (strlen($hexB) == 1) {
            $hexB = "0" . $hexB;
        } else {
            return false;
        }
    }

    //if prependPound is set, will prepend a
    //# sign to the beginning of the hex code.
    //(default = true)
    $hex = "";
    if ($prependPound) {
        $hex = "#";
    }

    $hex = $hex . $hexR . $hexG . $hexB;

    return $hex;
}

This is how I do it which is easy to remember is to think of RGB as three spokes on a wheel, 120 degrees apart.

H = hue (0-360)
S = saturation (0-1)
L = luminance (0-1)

R1 = SIN( H ) * L 
G1 = SIN( H + 120 ) * L 
B1 = SIN( H + 240 ) * L 

The tricky part is saturation, which is to a scale down to the average of those three.

AVERAGE = (R1 + G1 + B1) / 3 

R2 = ((R1 - AVERAGE) * S) + AVERAGE 
G2 = ((G1 - AVERAGE) * S) + AVERAGE 
B2 = ((B1 - AVERAGE) * S) + AVERAGE 

RED = R2 * 255 
GREEN = G2 * 255 
BLUE = B2 * 255 

Here's a fast, super-simple, branchless version in GLSL:

vec3 hsl2rgb( vec3 c ) {
    vec3 rgb = clamp(abs(mod(c.x*6.0 + vec3(0.0, 4.0, 2.0), 6.0)-3.0)-1.0, 0.0, 1.0);
    return c.z + c.y * (rgb-0.5)*(1.0-abs(2.0*c.z-1.0));
}

Doesn't get much shorter than that ~

Link to the original proof-of-concept: https://www.shadertoy.com/view/XljGzV

(Disclaimer: not my code!)

Here is the modified javascript function, it outputs Hue in set 0-360 degrees.

function rgbToHsl(r, g, b) {
      r /= 255, g /= 255, b /= 255;
      var max = Math.max(r, g, b), min = Math.min(r, g, b);
      var h, s, l = (max + min) / 2;

      if(max == min){
          h = s = 0; // achromatic
      } else {
          var d = max - min;
          s = l > 0.5 ? d / (2 - max - min) : d / (max + min);
          switch(max){
              case r: h = (g - b) / d ; break;
              case g: h = 2 + ( (b - r) / d); break;
              case b: h = 4 + ( (r - g) / d); break;
          }
          h*=60;
          if (h < 0) h +=360;
      }
     return([h, s, l]);
  }  
alert(rgbToHsl(125,115,145));

I got this from Brandon Mathis' HSL Picker source code.

It was originally written in CoffeeScript. I converted it to JavaScript using an online converter, and took out the mechanism to verify the user input was a valid RGB value. This answer worked for my usecase, as the most up-voted answer on this post I found to not produce a valid HSL value.

Note that it returns an hsla value, with a representing opacity/transparency. 0 is completely transparent, and 1 fully opaque.

function rgbToHsl(rgb) {
  var a, add, b, diff, g, h, hue, l, lum, max, min, r, s, sat;
  r = parseFloat(rgb[0]) / 255;
  g = parseFloat(rgb[1]) / 255;
  b = parseFloat(rgb[2]) / 255;
  max = Math.max(r, g, b);
  min = Math.min(r, g, b);
  diff = max - min;
  add = max + min;
  hue = min === max ? 0 : r === max ? ((60 * (g - b) / diff) + 360) % 360 : g === max ? (60 * (b - r) / diff) + 120 : (60 * (r - g) / diff) + 240;
  lum = 0.5 * add;
  sat = lum === 0 ? 0 : lum === 1 ? 1 : lum <= 0.5 ? diff / add : diff / (2 - add);
  h = Math.round(hue);
  s = Math.round(sat * 100);
  l = Math.round(lum * 100);
  a = parseFloat(rgb[3]) || 1;
  return [h, s, l, a];
}

An hsl|a color value, set in javascript, will be instantly converted to rgb|a All you need to do then is access the computed style value

document.body.style.color = 'hsla(44, 100%, 50%, 0.8)';

console.log(window.getComputedStyle(document.body).color);

// displays: rgba(255, 187, 0, 0.8)

Technically, I guess, this isn't even any lines of code - it's just done automatically. So, depending on your environment, you might be able to get away with just this. Not that there aren't a lot of very thoughtful responses here. I don't know what your goal is.

Now, what if you want to convert from rbg|a to hsl|a?

With H, S,and L in [0,1] range:

ConvertHslToRgb: function (iHsl)
{
    var min, sv, sextant, fract, vsf;

    var v = (iHsl.l <= 0.5) ? (iHsl.l * (1 + iHsl.s)) : (iHsl.l + iHsl.s - iHsl.l * iHsl.s);
    if (v === 0)
        return { Red: 0, Green: 0, Blue: 0 };

    min = 2 * iHsl.l - v;
    sv = (v - min) / v;
    var h = (6 * iHsl.h) % 6;
    sextant = Math.floor(h);
    fract = h - sextant;
    vsf = v * sv * fract;

    switch (sextant)
    {
        case 0: return { r: v, g: min + vsf, b: min };
        case 1: return { r: v - vsf, g: v, b: min };
        case 2: return { r: min, g: v, b: min + vsf };
        case 3: return { r: min, g: v - vsf, b: v };
        case 4: return { r: min + vsf, g: min, b: v };
        case 5: return { r: v, g: min, b: v - vsf };
    }
}

For when you need RGB to HSV and vice versa instead:

function rgbToHsv(r, g, b)
{
    r /= 255, g /= 255, b /= 255;

    var min = Math.min(r, g, b),
    max = Math.max(r, g, b),
    delta = max - min,
    h = 0, s = 0, v = max;

    if (min != max)
    {
        s = (delta / max);

        switch (max)
        {
            case r: h = (g - b) / delta + (g < b ? 6 : 0); break;
            case g: h = (b - r) / delta + 2; break;
            case b: h = (r - g) / delta + 4; break;
        }

        h /= 6;
    }

    return [h, s, v];
}

function hsvToRgb(h, s, v)
{
    var step = h / (1 / 6),
    pos = step - Math.floor(step), // the hue position within the current step
    m = (Math.floor(step) % 2) ? (1 - pos) * v : pos * v, // mix color value adjusted to the brightness(v)
    max = 1 * v,
    min = (1 - s) * v,
    med = m + ((1 - s) * (v - m)),
    r, g, b;

    switch (Math.floor(step))
    {
        case 0:
            r = max;
            g = med;
            b = min;
            break;
        case 1:
            r = med;
            g = max;
            b = min;
            break;
        case 2:
            r = min;
            g = max;
            b = med;
            break;
        case 3:
            r = min;
            g = med;
            b = max;
            break;
        case 4:
            r = med;
            g = min;
            b = max;
            break;
        case 5:
            r = max;
            g = min;
            b = med;
            break;
    }

    return [Math.round(r * 255), Math.round(g * 255), Math.round(b * 255)];
}

Unity3D C# Code from Mohsen's answer.

Here is the code from Mohsen's answer in C# targeted specifically for Unity3D. It was adapted from the C# answer given by Alec Thilenius above.

using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class ColorTools {

    /// <summary>
    /// Converts an HSL color value to RGB.
    /// Input: Vector4 ( X: [0.0, 1.0], Y: [0.0, 1.0], Z: [0.0, 1.0], W: [0.0, 1.0] )**strong text**
    /// Output: Color ( R: [0.0, 1.0], G: [0.0, 1.0], B: [0.0, 1.0], A: [0.0, 1.0] )
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="hsl">Vector4 defining X = h, Y = s, Z = l, W = a. Ranges [0, 1.0]</param>
    /// <returns>RGBA Color. Ranges [0.0, 1.0]</returns>
    public static Color HslToRgba(Vector4 hsl)
    {
        float r, g, b;

        if (hsl.y == 0.0f)
            r = g = b = hsl.z;
        else
        {
            var q = hsl.z < 0.5f ? hsl.z * (1.0f + hsl.y) : hsl.z + hsl.y - hsl.z * hsl.y;
            var p = 2.0f * hsl.z - q;
            r = HueToRgb(p, q, hsl.x + 1.0f / 3.0f);
            g = HueToRgb(p, q, hsl.x);
            b = HueToRgb(p, q, hsl.x - 1.0f / 3.0f);
        }

        return new Color(r, g, b, hsl.w);
    }

    // Helper for HslToRgba
    private static float HueToRgb(float p, float q, float t)
    {
        if (t < 0.0f) t += 1.0f;
        if (t > 1.0f) t -= 1.0f;
        if (t < 1.0f / 6.0f) return p + (q - p) * 6.0f * t;
        if (t < 1.0f / 2.0f) return q;
        if (t < 2.0f / 3.0f) return p + (q - p) * (2.0f / 3.0f - t) * 6.0f;
        return p;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Converts an RGB color value to HSL.
    /// Input: Color ( R: [0.0, 1.0], G: [0.0, 1.0], B: [0.0, 1.0], A: [0.0, 1.0] )
    /// Output: Vector4 ( X: [0.0, 1.0], Y: [0.0, 1.0], Z: [0.0, 1.0], W: [0.0, 1.0] )
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="rgba"></param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    public static Vector4 RgbaToHsl(Color rgba)
    {

        float max = (rgba.r > rgba.g && rgba.r > rgba.b) ? rgba.r : 
            (rgba.g > rgba.b) ? rgba.g : rgba.b;
        float min = (rgba.r < rgba.g && rgba.r < rgba.b) ? rgba.r : 
            (rgba.g < rgba.b) ? rgba.g : rgba.b;

        float h, s, l;
        h = s = l = (max + min) / 2.0f;

        if (max == min)
            h = s = 0.0f;
        else
        {
            float d = max - min;
            s = (l > 0.5f) ? d / (2.0f - max - min) : d / (max + min);

            if (rgba.r > rgba.g && rgba.r > rgba.b)
                h = (rgba.g - rgba.b) / d + (rgba.g < rgba.b ? 6.0f : 0.0f);

            else if (rgba.g > rgba.b)
                h = (rgba.b - rgba.r) / d + 2.0f;

            else
                h = (rgba.r - rgba.g) / d + 4.0f;

            h /= 6.0f;
        }

        return new Vector4(h, s, l, rgba.a);
    }

}

For all who said that Garry Tan solution converting incorrect from RGB to HSL and back. It because he left out fraction part of number in his code. I corrected his code (javascript). Sorry for link on russian languadge, but on english absent - HSL-wiki

function toHsl(r, g, b)
{
    r /= 255.0;
    g /= 255.0;
    b /= 255.0;
    var max = Math.max(r, g, b);
    var min = Math.min(r, g, b);
    var h, s, l = (max + min) / 2.0;

    if(max == min)
    {
        h = s = 0; 
    }
    else
    {
        var d = max - min;
        s = (l > 0.5 ? d / (2.0 - max - min) : d / (max + min));

        if(max == r && g >= b)
        {
            h = 1.0472 * (g - b) / d ;
        }
        else if(max == r && g < b)
        {
            h = 1.0472 * (g - b) / d + 6.2832;
        }
        else if(max == g)
        {
            h = 1.0472 * (b - r) / d + 2.0944;
        }
        else if(max == b)
        {
            h = 1.0472 * (r - g) / d + 4.1888;
        }
    }
    return {
        str: 'hsl(' + parseInt(h / 6.2832 * 360.0 + 0.5) + ',' + parseInt(s * 100.0 + 0.5) + '%,' + parseInt(l * 100.0 + 0.5) + '%)',
        obj: { h: parseInt(h / 6.2832 * 360.0 + 0.5), s: parseInt(s * 100.0 + 0.5), l: parseInt(l * 100.0 + 0.5) }
    };
};

PHP implementation of @Mohsen's code (including Test!)

Sorry to re-post this. But I really haven't seen any other implementation that gives the quality I needed.

/**
 * Converts an HSL color value to RGB. Conversion formula
 * adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSL_color_space.
 * Assumes h, s, and l are contained in the set [0, 1] and
 * returns r, g, and b in the set [0, 255].
 *
 * @param   {number}  h       The hue
 * @param   {number}  s       The saturation
 * @param   {number}  l       The lightness
 * @return  {Array}           The RGB representation
 */
  
function hue2rgb($p, $q, $t){
            if($t < 0) $t += 1;
            if($t > 1) $t -= 1;
            if($t < 1/6) return $p + ($q - $p) * 6 * $t;
            if($t < 1/2) return $q;
            if($t < 2/3) return $p + ($q - $p) * (2/3 - $t) * 6;
            return $p;
        }
function hslToRgb($h, $s, $l){
    if($s == 0){
        $r = $l;
        $g = $l;
        $b = $l; // achromatic
    }else{
        $q = $l < 0.5 ? $l * (1 + $s) : $l + $s - $l * $s;
        $p = 2 * $l - $q;
        $r = hue2rgb($p, $q, $h + 1/3);
        $g = hue2rgb($p, $q, $h);
        $b = hue2rgb($p, $q, $h - 1/3);
    }

    return array(round($r * 255), round($g * 255), round($b * 255));
}

/* Uncomment to test * /
for ($i=0;$i<360;$i++) {
  $rgb=hslToRgb($i/360, 1, .9);
  echo '<div style="background-color:rgb(' .$rgb[0] . ', ' . $rgb[1] . ', ' . $rgb[2] . ');padding:2px;"></div>';
}
/* End Test */

C++ implementation with probably better performance than @Mohsen code. It uses a [0-6] range for the hue, avoiding the division and multiplication by 6. S and L range is [0,1]

void fromRGBtoHSL(float rgb[], float hsl[])
{
     const float maxRGB = max(rgb[0], max(rgb[1], rgb[2]));
     const float minRGB = min(rgb[0], min(rgb[1], rgb[2]));
     const float delta2 = maxRGB + minRGB;
     hsl[2] = delta2 * 0.5f;

     const float delta = maxRGB - minRGB;
     if (delta < FLT_MIN)
         hsl[0] = hsl[1] = 0.0f;
     else
     {
         hsl[1] = delta / (hsl[2] > 0.5f ? 2.0f - delta2 : delta2);
         if (rgb[0] >= maxRGB)
         {
             hsl[0] = (rgb[1] - rgb[2]) / delta;
             if (hsl[0] < 0.0f)
                 hsl[0] += 6.0f;
         }
         else if (rgb[1] >= maxRGB)
             hsl[0] = 2.0f + (rgb[2] - rgb[0]) / delta;
         else
             hsl[0] = 4.0f + (rgb[0] - rgb[1]) / delta;
     }
}

void fromHSLtoRGB(const float hsl[], float rgb[])
{
    if(hsl[1] < FLT_MIN)
        rgb[0] = rgb[1] = rgb[2] = hsl[2];
    else if(hsl[2] < FLT_MIN)
        rgb[0] = rgb[1] = rgb[2] = 0.0f;
    else
    {
        const float q = hsl[2] < 0.5f ? hsl[2] * (1.0f + hsl[1]) : hsl[2] + hsl[1] - hsl[2] * hsl[1];
        const float p = 2.0f * hsl[2] - q;
        float t[] = {hsl[0] + 2.0f, hsl[0], hsl[0] - 2.0f};

        for(int i=0; i<3; ++i)
        {
            if(t[i] < 0.0f)
                t[i] += 6.0f;
            else if(t[i] > 6.0f)
                t[i] -= 6.0f;

            if(t[i] < 1.0f)
                rgb[i] = p + (q - p) * t[i];
            else if(t[i] < 3.0f)
                rgb[i] = q;
            else if(t[i] < 4.0f)
                rgb[i] = p + (q - p) * (4.0f - t[i]);
            else
                rgb[i] = p;
          }
      }
}

HSL to RGB in Typescript

All the options above didn't work on my code in TS.

I tweak one of those and now it works as a charm:

type HslType = { h: number; s: number; l: number }

const hslToRgb = (hsl: HslType): RgbType => {
  let { h, s, l } = hsl

  // IMPORTANT if s and l between 0,1 remove the next two lines:
  s /= 100
  l /= 100

  const k = (n: number) => (n + h / 30) % 12
  const a = s * Math.min(l, 1 - l)
  const f = (n: number) =>
    l - a * Math.max(-1, Math.min(k(n) - 3, Math.min(9 - k(n), 1)))
  return {
    r: Math.round(255 * f(0)),
    g: Math.round(255 * f(8)),
    b: Math.round(255 * f(4)),
  }
}

I needed a really light weight one, Its not 100%, but it gets close enough for some usecases.

float3 Hue(float h, float s, float l)
{
    float r = max(cos(h * 2 * UNITY_PI) * 0.5 + 0.5, 0);
    float g = max(cos((h + 0.666666) * 2 * UNITY_PI) * 0.5 + 0.5, 0);
    float b = max(cos((h + 0.333333) * 2 * UNITY_PI) * 0.5 + 0.5, 0);
    float gray = 0.2989 * r + 0.5870 * g + 0.1140 * b;
    return lerp(gray, float3(r, g, b), s) * smoothstep(0, 0.5, l) + 1 * smoothstep(0.5, 1, l);
}

PHP - shortest but precise

Here I rewrite my JS answer (math details are there) to PHP - you can run it here

function hsl2rgb($h,$s,$l) 
{
  $a = $s * min($l, 1-$l);
  $k = function($n,$h) { return ($n+$h/30)%12;};
  $f = function($n) use ($h,$s,$l,$a,$k) { 
      return $l - $a * max( min($k($n,$h)-3, 9-$k($n,$h), 1),-1);
  };
  return [ $f(0), $f(8), $f(4) ];
}