A layer system includes at least one stack of successive multilayers, wherein each multilayer includes a first partial layer with a first optical thickness and a second partial layer with a second optical thickness that is different from the first optical thickness. The multilayer has optical characteristics that are specified depending on a parameter which is a function of a ratio of quotients of the optical thickness of a partial layer with higher refractive characteristics and the optical thickness of a partial layer with lower refractive characteristics of the respective multilayers, wherein the index i denotes the order of the successive multilayers in the stack. The product of a reflectivity of the stack of multilayers and the parameter is less than for an anti-reflection and/or anti-reflective effect of the stack of multilayers, or is greater than or equal to 1 for a mirroring. An optical element may include a layer system and a method for producing such a layer system.