--- name: tailwind-patterns-75029de2327d description: Tailwind CSS v4 principles. CSS-first configuration, container queries, modern patterns, design token architecture. allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep --- # Tailwind CSS Patterns (v4 - 2025) > Modern utility-first CSS with CSS-native configuration. --- ## 1. Tailwind v4 Architecture ### What Changed from v3 | v3 (Legacy) | v4 (Current) | | -------------------- | ---------------------------- | | `tailwind.config.js` | CSS-based `@theme` directive | | PostCSS plugin | Oxide engine (10x faster) | | JIT mode | Native, always-on | | Plugin system | CSS-native features | | `@apply` directive | Still works, discouraged | ### v4 Core Concepts | Concept | Description | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------ | | **CSS-first** | Configuration in CSS, not JavaScript | | **Oxide Engine** | Rust-based compiler, much faster | | **Native Nesting** | CSS nesting without PostCSS | | **CSS Variables** | All tokens exposed as `--*` vars | --- ## 2. CSS-Based Configuration ### Theme Definition ``` @theme { /* Colors - use semantic names */ --color-primary: oklch(0.7 0.15 250); --color-surface: oklch(0.98 0 0); --color-surface-dark: oklch(0.15 0 0); /* Spacing scale */ --spacing-xs: 0.25rem; --spacing-sm: 0.5rem; --spacing-md: 1rem; --spacing-lg: 2rem; /* Typography */ --font-sans: 'Inter', system-ui, sans-serif; --font-mono: 'JetBrains Mono', monospace; } ``` ### When to Extend vs Override | Action | Use When | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | **Extend** | Adding new values alongside defaults | | **Override** | Replacing default scale entirely | | **Semantic tokens** | Project-specific naming (primary, surface) | --- ## 3. Container Queries (v4 Native) ### Breakpoint vs Container | Type | Responds To | | ---------------------------- | -------------------- | | **Breakpoint** (`md:`) | Viewport width | | **Container** (`@container`) | Parent element width | ### Container Query Usage | Pattern | Classes | | -------------------- | ---------------------------------- | | Define container | `@container` on parent | | Container breakpoint | `@sm:`, `@md:`, `@lg:` on children | | Named containers | `@container/card` for specificity | ### When to Use | Scenario | Use | | -------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | | Page-level layouts | Viewport breakpoints | | Component-level responsive | Container queries | | Reusable components | Container queries (context-independent) | --- ## 4. Responsive Design ### Breakpoint System | Prefix | Min Width | Target | | ------ | --------- | -------------------------- | | (none) | 0px | Mobile-first base | | `sm:` | 640px | Large phone / small tablet | | `md:` | 768px | Tablet | | `lg:` | 1024px | Laptop | | `xl:` | 1280px | Desktop | | `2xl:` | 1536px | Large desktop | ### Mobile-First Principle 1. Write mobile styles first (no prefix) 2. Add larger screen overrides with prefixes 3. Example: `w-full md:w-1/2 lg:w-1/3` --- ## 5. Dark Mode ### Configuration Strategies | Method | Behavior | Use When | | ---------- | ------------------------- | --------------------- | | `class` | `.dark` class toggles | Manual theme switcher | | `media` | Follows system preference | No user control | | `selector` | Custom selector (v4) | Complex theming | ### Dark Mode Pattern | Element | Light | Dark | | ---------- | ----------------- | ---------------------- | | Background | `bg-white` | `dark:bg-zinc-900` | | Text | `text-zinc-900` | `dark:text-zinc-100` | | Borders | `border-zinc-200` | `dark:border-zinc-700` | --- ## 6. Modern Layout Patterns ### Flexbox Patterns | Pattern | Classes | | ------------------ | ----------------------------------- | | Center (both axes) | `flex items-center justify-center` | | Vertical stack | `flex flex-col gap-4` | | Horizontal row | `flex gap-4` | | Space between | `flex justify-between items-center` | | Wrap grid | `flex flex-wrap gap-4` | ### Grid Patterns | Pattern | Classes | | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | Auto-fit responsive | `grid grid-cols-[repeat(auto-fit,minmax(250px,1fr))]` | | Asymmetric (Bento) | `grid grid-cols-3 grid-rows-2` with spans | | Sidebar layout | `grid grid-cols-[auto_1fr]` | > **Note:** Prefer asymmetric/Bento layouts over symmetric 3-column grids. --- ## 7. Modern Color System ### OKLCH vs RGB/HSL | Format | Advantage | | --------- | --------------------------------------- | | **OKLCH** | Perceptually uniform, better for design | | **HSL** | Intuitive hue/saturation | | **RGB** | Legacy compatibility | ### Color Token Architecture | Layer | Example | Purpose | | ------------- | ----------------- | -------------------- | | **Primitive** | `--blue-500` | Raw color values | | **Semantic** | `--color-primary` | Purpose-based naming | | **Component** | `--button-bg` | Component-specific | --- ## 8. Typography System ### Font Stack Pattern | Type | Recommended | | ------- | ------------------------------------------ | | Sans | `'Inter', 'SF Pro', system-ui, sans-serif` | | Mono | `'JetBrains Mono', 'Fira Code', monospace` | | Display | `'Outfit', 'Poppins', sans-serif` | ### Type Scale | Class | Size | Use | | ----------- | -------- | ---------------- | | `text-xs` | 0.75rem | Labels, captions | | `text-sm` | 0.875rem | Secondary text | | `text-base` | 1rem | Body text | | `text-lg` | 1.125rem | Lead text | | `text-xl`+ | 1.25rem+ | Headings | --- ## 9. Animation & Transitions ### Built-in Animations | Class | Effect | | ---------------- | -------------------- | | `animate-spin` | Continuous rotation | | `animate-ping` | Attention pulse | | `animate-pulse` | Subtle opacity pulse | | `animate-bounce` | Bouncing effect | ### Transition Patterns | Pattern | Classes | | -------------- | -------------------------------------- | | All properties | `transition-all duration-200` | | Specific | `transition-colors duration-150` | | With easing | `ease-out` or `ease-in-out` | | Hover effect | `hover:scale-105 transition-transform` | --- ## 10. Component Extraction ### When to Extract | Signal | Action | | ------------------------- | ------------------ | | Same class combo 3+ times | Extract component | | Complex state variants | Extract component | | Design system element | Extract + document | ### Extraction Methods | Method | Use When | | ----------------------- | -------------------- | | **React/Vue component** | Dynamic, JS needed | | **@apply in CSS** | Static, no JS needed | | **Design tokens** | Reusable values | --- ## 11. Anti-Patterns | Don't | Do | | --------------------------- | -------------------------- | | Arbitrary values everywhere | Use design system scale | | `!important` | Fix specificity properly | | Inline `style=` | Use utilities | | Duplicate long class lists | Extract component | | Mix v3 config with v4 | Migrate fully to CSS-first | | Use `@apply` heavily | Prefer components | --- ## 12. Performance Principles | Principle | Implementation | | ------------------ | -------------------------- | | **Purge unused** | Automatic in v4 | | **Avoid dynamism** | No template string classes | | **Use Oxide** | Default in v4, 10x faster | | **Cache builds** | CI/CD caching | --- > **Remember:** Tailwind v4 is CSS-first. Embrace CSS variables, container queries, and native features. The config file is now optional. --- Source attribution: Ab-aswini Original project: https://github.com/Ab-aswini/Agent-kit-P1/blob/16ae07362b19abdfca76a3c20a7e34bb40dbadff/.agent-os/skills/tailwind-patterns/SKILL.md License: MIT License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI. ## Upstream license notice MIT License Copyright (c) 2025 Ab-aswini Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. # Dave AI resource metadata Creator / publisher: Ab-aswini Original project: https://github.com/Ab-aswini/Agent-kit-P1/blob/16ae07362b19abdfca76a3c20a7e34bb40dbadff/.agent-os/skills/tailwind-patterns/SKILL.md Attribution basis: Source repository record Fields of work: Design, Development & Engineering Roles: Frontend Developer, Product Designer, UX Designer Specialties: Cross Platform, Frontend Tools: Tool not specified Country applicability: Country not specified Classification basis: Source catalog labels Instruction SHA-256: 304790783342575cbd43b8f2e377065ff47c3192d40ab4677e47ee09bfb7ef91