name: tailwind-patterns 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

Write mobile styles first (no prefix)
Add larger screen overrides with prefixes
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.

tailwind-patterns

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