Tailwind CSS v4

Verify before implementing: For v4-specific syntax (@theme, @variant, CSS-first config), search current docs via search_docs before writing code. Tailwind v4 changed significantly from v3 and training data may be stale.

CSS-First Configuration

v4 eliminates tailwind.config.ts. All configuration lives in CSS.

Directive	Purpose
@import "tailwindcss"	Entry point (replaces @tailwind base/components/utilities)
@theme { }	Define/extend design tokens -- auto-generates utility classes
@theme inline { }	Map CSS variables to Tailwind utilities without generating new vars
@theme static { }	Define tokens that don't generate utilities
@utility name { }	Create custom utilities (replaces @layer components + @apply)
@custom-variant name (selector)	Define custom variants

@import "tailwindcss";

@theme {
  --color-brand: oklch(0.72 0.11 178);
  --font-display: "Inter", sans-serif;
  --animate-fade-in: fade-in 0.2s ease-out;
  @keyframes fade-in { from { opacity: 0; } to { opacity: 1; } }
}

@custom-variant dark (&:where(.dark, .dark *));

Tokens defined with @theme become utilities automatically: --color-brand produces bg-brand, text-brand, border-brand. Define z-index as tokens (--z-modal: 50) and reference via z-(--z-modal) instead of arbitrary z-50.

CSS Modules: when using .module.css with Tailwind v4, add @reference "#tailwind"; at the top of the module file to enable theme token access inside the module.

Animations (tw-animate-css): use animate-in/animate-out base classes combined with effect classes (fade-in, slide-in-from-top). Decimal spacing gotcha: use bracket notation [0.625rem] instead of fractional values like 2.5.

v3 to v4 Breaking Changes

v3	v4	Notes
tailwind.config.ts	@theme in CSS	Delete config file
@tailwind base/components/utilities	@import "tailwindcss"	Single import
darkMode: "class"	@custom-variant dark (...)	CSS-only
bg-gradient-to-r	bg-linear-to-r	Also: bg-radial, bg-conic
bg-opacity-60	bg-red-500/60	All *-opacity-* removed
rounded-sm	rounded-xs	Radius scale shifted down one step
rounded	rounded-sm	(run @tailwindcss/upgrade codemod)
rounded-md (6px)	rounded (6px)
rounded-lg	rounded-md
rounded-xl	rounded-lg
min-h-screen	min-h-dvh	dvh handles mobile browser chrome
w-6 h-6	size-6	Size shorthand for equal w/h
space-x-4	gap-4	Gap handles flex/grid wrapping correctly
text-base leading-7	text-base/7	Inline line-height modifier
require("tailwindcss-animate")	tw-animate-css	CSS-only animations

Coding Rules

• gap over space-x/space-y -- gap handles wrapping; space-* breaks on wrap
• size-* over w-* h-* -- for equal dimensions
• min-h-dvh over min-h-screen -- dvh accounts for mobile browser chrome
• Opacity modifier (bg-black/50) -- *-opacity-* utilities are removed in v4
• Design tokens over arbitrary values -- check @theme before using [#hex]
• Never construct classes dynamically -- text-${color}-500 won't be detected; use complete class names
• @utility over @apply with @layer -- @apply on @layer classes fails in v4
• Parent padding over last-child margin -- use padding on containers instead of bottom margins on the last child

ESLint Integration

Use eslint-plugin-better-tailwindcss for automated class validation:

• no-conflicting-classes -- catches text-red-500 text-blue-500
• no-unknown-classes -- flags typos
• enforce-canonical-classes -- normalizes shorthand
• no-duplicate-classes -- removes redundant entries
• no-deprecated-classes -- catches v3 classes removed in v4
• useSortedClasses -- enforces canonical class order; configure attributes: ["classList"] and functions: ["clsx", "cva", "cn", "tv", "tw"] to cover JSX utility functions

Class Merging

Use cn() combining clsx + tailwind-merge for conditional/dynamic classes. Use plain strings for static className attributes.

import { type ClassValue, clsx } from "clsx";
import { twMerge } from "tailwind-merge";
export function cn(...inputs: ClassValue[]) { return twMerge(clsx(inputs)); }

// Static: plain string
<button className="rounded-lg px-4 py-2 font-medium bg-blue-600">

// Conditional: use cn()
<button className={cn("rounded-lg px-4 py-2", isActive ? "bg-blue-600" : "bg-gray-700")} />

Component Variants

Use tailwind-variants (tv()) for type-safe variant components. Alternative: class-variance-authority (cva()).

import { tv } from "tailwind-variants";
const button = tv({
  base: "rounded-lg px-4 py-2 font-medium transition-colors",
  variants: {
    color: { primary: "bg-blue-600 text-white", secondary: "bg-gray-200 text-gray-800" },
    size: { sm: "text-sm px-3 py-1", md: "text-base", lg: "text-lg px-6 py-3" },
  },
  defaultVariants: { color: "primary", size: "md" },
});

See tailwind-variants patterns for slots, composition, and responsive variants.

Common Errors

Symptom	Fix
bg-primary doesn't work	Add @theme inline { --color-primary: var(--primary); }
Colors all black/white	Double hsl() wrapping -- use var(--color) not hsl(var(--color))
@apply fails on custom class	Use @utility instead of @layer components
Build fails after migration	Delete tailwind.config.ts
Animations broken	Replace tailwindcss-animate with tw-animate-css
.dark { @theme { } } fails	v4 does not support nested @theme -- use :root/.dark CSS vars mapped via @theme inline

Dark Mode (v4 Pattern)

:root { --background: hsl(0 0% 100%); --foreground: hsl(222 84% 4.9%); }
.dark { --background: hsl(222 84% 4.9%); --foreground: hsl(210 40% 98%); }
@theme inline { --color-background: var(--background); --color-foreground: var(--foreground); }

Semantic classes (bg-background, text-foreground) auto-switch -- no dark: variants needed for themed colors.

Verify

• Build passes with zero errors (npm run build or equivalent)
• No v3 class names remain in changed files (check with @tailwindcss/upgrade --dry-run if available)
• No conflicting classes on the same element

References

• Component patterns -- tailwind-variants slots, CVA, compound components
• Layout patterns -- grid areas, container queries, z-index management, fluid typography