---
name: tailwind-patterns
type: reference
description: "Provides Tailwind CSS v4 patterns for CSS-first configuration, container queries, design tokens, and utility-first component architecture. Use when working with Tailwind CSS files or when the user mentions Tailwind, Tailwind v4, or utility-first CSS."
paths: ["**/*.tsx", "**/*.jsx", "**/*.css", "**/tailwind.config.*"]
when_to_use: "When writing Tailwind CSS v4, configuring design tokens, implementing container queries, or building responsive layouts"
allowed-tools: Read, Glob, Grep
user-invocable: true
effort: 3
---
# Tailwind CSS Patterns (v4 - 2025)
> Modern utility-first CSS with CSS-native configuration.
## When to Use
Use this skill when configuring Tailwind v4, using CSS-first theme and design tokens, or implementing container queries and modern Tailwind patterns.
---
## 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.