You have probably seen red, yellow, or blue brake calipers peeking through the wheels and wondered if the color means something. Mostly, it is style. Here is what brake caliper color actually means.
Color is usually just paint
On most cars, a colored caliper is simply painted - for looks - and says nothing about performance. Many owners paint their own calipers a bright color to dress up the wheels; see caliper painting. The color itself does not make the brakes better.
Some brands use color as branding
Certain performance brake makers paint their calipers a signature color (red, yellow, etc.) so they are recognizable through the wheel. On those, the color signals the brand of a big-brake or performance caliper - but it is the caliper design, not the paint, that performs.
What actually matters
Piston count and size, caliper stiffness, and pad/rotor quality determine braking - not color; see loaded calipers. A plain cast caliper with quality pads outperforms a fancy-colored one with cheap pads.
If you want the look
Painting calipers is a cheap, popular upgrade - just use high-temp caliper paint and clean the surface well. Function comes from good parts underneath; fit quality pads and hardware.