Abstract The hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) stain has stood the test of time as the standard stain for histologic examination of human tissues. This simple dye combination is capable of highlighting the fine structures of cells and tissues. Most cellular organelles and extracellular matrix are eosinophilic, while the nucleus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosomes are basophilic. This review discusses the spectrum, intensity, and texture of colors observed in H&E-stained slides to illustrate their value in surgical pathology diagnosis. Changes in color of…