---
title: Themes
---

opencode supports a flexible JSON-based theme system that allows users to create and customize themes easily. 

## Theme Loading Hierarchy

Themes are loaded from multiple directories in the following order (later directories override earlier ones):

1. **Built-in themes** - Embedded in the binary
2. **User config directory** - `~/.config/opencode/themes/*.json` (or `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/opencode/themes/*.json`)
3. **Project root directory** - `<project-root>/.opencode/themes/*.json`
4. **Current working directory** - `./.opencode/themes/*.json`

If multiple directories contain a theme with the same name, the theme from the directory with higher priority will be used.

## Creating a Custom Theme

To create a custom theme, create a JSON file in one of the theme directories:

```bash no-frame
# For user-wide themes
mkdir -p ~/.config/opencode/themes
vim ~/.config/opencode/themes/my-theme.json

# For project-specific themes
mkdir -p .opencode/themes
vim .opencode/themes/my-theme.json
```

## Theme JSON Format

Themes use a flexible JSON format with support for:

- **Hex colors**: `"#ffffff"`
- **ANSI colors**: `3` (0-255)
- **Color references**: `"primary"` or custom definitions
- **Dark/light variants**: `{"dark": "#000", "light": "#fff"}`
- **No color**: `"none"` - Uses the terminal's default color (transparent)

### Example Theme

```json no-frame
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/theme.json",
  "defs": {
    "nord0": "#2E3440",
    "nord1": "#3B4252",
    "nord2": "#434C5E",
    "nord3": "#4C566A",
    "nord4": "#D8DEE9",
    "nord5": "#E5E9F0",
    "nord6": "#ECEFF4",
    "nord7": "#8FBCBB",
    "nord8": "#88C0D0",
    "nord9": "#81A1C1",
    "nord10": "#5E81AC",
    "nord11": "#BF616A",
    "nord12": "#D08770",
    "nord13": "#EBCB8B",
    "nord14": "#A3BE8C",
    "nord15": "#B48EAD"
  },
  "theme": {
    "primary": {
      "dark": "nord8",
      "light": "nord10"
    },
    "secondary": {
      "dark": "nord9",
      "light": "nord9"
    },
    "accent": {
      "dark": "nord7",
      "light": "nord7"
    },
    "error": {
      "dark": "nord11",
      "light": "nord11"
    },
    "warning": {
      "dark": "nord12",
      "light": "nord12"
    },
    "success": {
      "dark": "nord14",
      "light": "nord14"
    },
    "info": {
      "dark": "nord8",
      "light": "nord10"
    },
    "text": {
      "dark": "nord4",
      "light": "nord0"
    },
    "textMuted": {
      "dark": "nord3",
      "light": "nord1"
    },
    "background": {
      "dark": "nord0",
      "light": "nord6"
    },
    "backgroundPanel": {
      "dark": "nord1",
      "light": "nord5"
    },
    "backgroundElement": {
      "dark": "nord1",
      "light": "nord4"
    },
    "border": {
      "dark": "nord2",
      "light": "nord3"
    },
    "borderActive": {
      "dark": "nord3",
      "light": "nord2"
    },
    "borderSubtle": {
      "dark": "nord2",
      "light": "nord3"
    },
    "diffAdded": {
      "dark": "nord14",
      "light": "nord14"
    },
    "diffRemoved": {
      "dark": "nord11",
      "light": "nord11"
    },
    "diffContext": {
      "dark": "nord3",
      "light": "nord3"
    },
    "diffHunkHeader": {
      "dark": "nord3",
      "light": "nord3"
    },
    "diffHighlightAdded": {
      "dark": "nord14",
      "light": "nord14"
    },
    "diffHighlightRemoved": {
      "dark": "nord11",
      "light": "nord11"
    },
    "diffAddedBg": {
      "dark": "#3B4252",
      "light": "#E5E9F0"
    },
    "diffRemovedBg": {
      "dark": "#3B4252",
      "light": "#E5E9F0"
    },
    "diffContextBg": {
      "dark": "nord1",
      "light": "nord5"
    },
    "diffLineNumber": {
      "dark": "nord2",
      "light": "nord4"
    },
    "diffAddedLineNumberBg": {
      "dark": "#3B4252",
      "light": "#E5E9F0"
    },
    "diffRemovedLineNumberBg": {
      "dark": "#3B4252",
      "light": "#E5E9F0"
    },
    "markdownText": {
      "dark": "nord4",
      "light": "nord0"
    },
    "markdownHeading": {
      "dark": "nord8",
      "light": "nord10"
    },
    "markdownLink": {
      "dark": "nord9",
      "light": "nord9"
    },
    "markdownLinkText": {
      "dark": "nord7",
      "light": "nord7"
    },
    "markdownCode": {
      "dark": "nord14",
      "light": "nord14"
    },
    "markdownBlockQuote": {
      "dark": "nord3",
      "light": "nord3"
    },
    "markdownEmph": {
      "dark": "nord12",
      "light": "nord12"
    },
    "markdownStrong": {
      "dark": "nord13",
      "light": "nord13"
    },
    "markdownHorizontalRule": {
      "dark": "nord3",
      "light": "nord3"
    },
    "markdownListItem": {
      "dark": "nord8",
      "light": "nord10"
    },
    "markdownListEnumeration": {
      "dark": "nord7",
      "light": "nord7"
    },
    "markdownImage": {
      "dark": "nord9",
      "light": "nord9"
    },
    "markdownImageText": {
      "dark": "nord7",
      "light": "nord7"
    },
    "markdownCodeBlock": {
      "dark": "nord4",
      "light": "nord0"
    },
    "syntaxComment": {
      "dark": "nord3",
      "light": "nord3"
    },
    "syntaxKeyword": {
      "dark": "nord9",
      "light": "nord9"
    },
    "syntaxFunction": {
      "dark": "nord8",
      "light": "nord8"
    },
    "syntaxVariable": {
      "dark": "nord7",
      "light": "nord7"
    },
    "syntaxString": {
      "dark": "nord14",
      "light": "nord14"
    },
    "syntaxNumber": {
      "dark": "nord15",
      "light": "nord15"
    },
    "syntaxType": {
      "dark": "nord7",
      "light": "nord7"
    },
    "syntaxOperator": {
      "dark": "nord9",
      "light": "nord9"
    },
    "syntaxPunctuation": {
      "dark": "nord4",
      "light": "nord0"
    }
  }
}
```

### Color Definitions

The `defs` section (optional) allows you to define reusable colors that can be referenced in the theme.

### Using "none" for Terminal Defaults

The special value `\"none\"` can be used for any color to inherit the terminal's default color. This is particularly useful for creating themes that blend seamlessly with your terminal's color scheme:

- `\"text\": \"none\"` - Uses terminal's default foreground color
- `\"background\": \"none\"` - Uses terminal's default background color

## The System Theme

The `system` theme is designed to automatically adapt to your terminal's color scheme. Unlike traditional themes that use fixed colors, the system theme:

- **Generates gray scale**: Creates a custom gray scale based on your terminal's background color, ensuring optimal contrast
- **Uses ANSI colors**: Leverages standard ANSI colors (0-15) for syntax highlighting and UI elements, which respect your terminal's color palette
- **Preserves terminal defaults**: Uses `none` for text and background colors to maintain your terminal's native appearance

The system theme is ideal for users who:
- Want opencode to match their terminal's appearance
- Use custom terminal color schemes
- Prefer a consistent look across all terminal applications

## Built-in Themes

opencode comes with several built-in themes:
- `system` - Default theme that dynamically adapts to your terminal's background color
- `tokyonight` - Tokyonight theme
- `everforest` - Everforest theme
- `ayu` - Ayu dark theme
- `catppuccin` - Catppuccin theme
- `gruvbox` - Gruvbox theme
- `kanagawa` - Kanagawa theme
- `nord` - Nord theme
- `matrix` - Hacker-style green on black theme
- `one-dark` - Atom One Dark inspired theme

## Using a Theme

To use a theme, set it in your opencode configuration or select it from the theme dialog in the TUI.

```json title="opencode.json" {3}
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "theme": "tokyonight"
}
```
