Which term describes the lightness or darkness of a color?

The term that describes the lightness or darkness of a color is value. In the context of art and color theory, value refers specifically to the relative brightness or darkness of a color, which plays an essential role in creating depth, contrast, and dimension in a composition.

For instance, high-value colors are lighter, such as pastels, while low-value colors are darker, like deep blues or rich browns. Understanding value is crucial for artists as it helps them create visuals that are more compelling and balanced. In contrast, space pertains to the area around or between objects, color refers to the hue itself regardless of its lightness or darkness, and texture involves the surface quality or feel of an object.