<alpha-value>

A <number> in the range 0.0 to 1.0, inclusive, or a <percentage> in the range 0% to 100%, inclusive, representing the opacity of the channel (that is, the value of its alpha channel). Any value outside the interval, though valid, is clamped to the nearest limit in the range.

Value	Meaning
0	The element is fully transparent (that is, invisible).
Any <number> strictly between 0 and 1	The element is translucent (that is, content behind the element can be seen).
1 (default value)	The element is fully opaque (visually solid).

opacity applies to the element as a whole, including its contents, even though the value is not inherited by child elements. Thus, the element and its children all have the same opacity relative to the element's background, even if they have different opacities relative to one another.

Using opacity with a value other than 1 places the element in a new stacking context.

To change the opacity of a background only, use the background property with a color value that allows for an alpha channel. For example:

background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);

If text opacity is adjusted, it is important to ensure that the contrast ratio between the color of the text and the background the text is placed over is high enough that people experiencing low vision conditions will be able to read the content of the page.

Color contrast ratio is determined by comparing the luminosity of the opacity-adjusted text and background color values. In order to meet current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a ratio of 4.5:1 is required for text content and 3:1 for larger text such as headings. Large text is defined as 18.66px and bold or larger, or 24px or larger.

• WebAIM: Color Contrast Checker
• MDN Understanding WCAG, Guideline 1.4 explanations
• Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.3 | W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0

opacity = 
  <alpha-value>  

<alpha-value> = 
  <number>      |
  <percentage>  

The following example demonstrates how the opacity property changes the opacity of the entire element and content, thus making the text very hard to read.

HTML

<div class="light">You can barely see this.</div>
<div class="medium">This is easier to see.</div>
<div class="heavy">This is very easy to see.</div>

CSS

div {
  background-color: yellow;
  font-weight: bold;
  font-size: 130%;
}
.light {
  opacity: 0.2; /* Barely see the text over the background */
}
.medium {
  opacity: 0.5; /* See the text more clearly over the background */
}
.heavy {
  opacity: 0.9; /* See the text very clearly over the background */
}

Result

In the following example opacity is changed on hover, so the striped background image on the parent element shows through the image.

HTML

<div class="wrapper">
  <img
    src="//interactive-examples.mdn.mozilla.net/media/dino.svg"
    alt="MDN Dino"
    width="128"
    height="146"
    class="opacity" />
</div>

CSS

img.opacity {
  opacity: 1;
}

img.opacity:hover {
  opacity: 0.5;
}

.wrapper {
  width: 200px;
  height: 160px;
  background-color: #f03cc3;
  background-image: linear-gradient(
    90deg,
    transparent 50%,
    rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5) 50%
  );
  background-size: 20px 20px;
}

Result