A design element for applications operating on Apple’s mobile operating system, it refers to icons utilizing a dark or achromatic base color. This characteristic is implemented for diverse reasons, such as aesthetic preferences, or to achieve visual consistency with dark mode settings on devices. An example would be a weather application icon that has a cloudy weather symbol with a dark achromatic base instead of lighter alternatives.
Adopting a dark base color in application icons offers improved readability and reduces eye strain in low-light environments. Moreover, it aligns with the growing popularity of system-wide dark modes, thereby ensuring a seamless and consistent user experience across the operating system. Historically, lighter colors were more prevalent in interface design, but the focus shifted towards dark schemes as display technology improved, and users demanded more visual comfort.
