RAL is a colour management system used in Europe that is created and administered by the German RAL gGmbH (RAL non-profit LLC), which is a subsidiary of the German RAL Institute. In colloquial speech, RAL refers to the RAL Classic system, mainly used for varnish and powder coating, but now plastics as well. Approved RAL products are provided with a hologram to make unauthorised versions difficult to produce. Imitations may show different hue and colour when observed under various light sources.

These are a series of color systems and color catalogs used worldwide, each of which comprises a palette of standardized colors (both digital and printed). Each color is assigned a unique number. This makes it possible, for example, to precisely communicate the color of paints and coatings without having to provide a color sample.

The best-known color collection is the RAL color system, which the RAL Institute markets under the name RAL Classic. The first such color collection, which at the time consisted of 40 standardized shades, was created in 1927 by the predecessor organization, the Reich Committee for Delivery Conditions (RAL). Today, the color collection includes 216 shades[1] and is used by many manufacturers for their products and brands to facilitate color communication and ensure a consistent color appearance over time.

Since 1940, each color in the color catalog has been assigned a four-digit color number. The purpose of this standardization is to allow customers and suppliers to simply agree on a RAL number, eliminating the need to exchange color samples on specific materials. In addition to the four-digit color number, each color has also been assigned an official color name since the 1960s, which further facilitates communication.