Eli5: How are octopuses (octopi? I don’t know) able to change their skin color and texture to camouflage themselves?

Question

Eli5: How are octopuses (octopi? I don’t know) able to change their skin color and texture to camouflage themselves?

In: 9

Answer 1

I’ve always wanted to know how they know which colour/pattern and texture to be. They obviously stop when they’ve judged that they’ve achieved a match. Can anyone explain that aspect?