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Utility-first CSS framework v4 with CSS-first configuration, @theme directive, and the new Oxide engine.
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| name | tailwind |
| description | Utility-first CSS framework v4 with CSS-first configuration, @theme directive, and the new Oxide engine. |
| metadata | {"author":"mte90","version":"2.1.0","tags":["css","tailwind","v4","utility-first","oxide-engine"]} |
Tailwind CSS v4 is a complete rewrite of the framework, built on a new Rust-based Oxide engine that's 10x faster. The biggest change: configuration is now done in CSS, not JavaScript. No more tailwind.config.js for most projects.
Browser support: Safari 16.4+, Chrome 111+, Firefox 128+
Tailwind v4 uses a new Rust-based Oxide engine with dramatically improved performance:
| Operation | v3 Speed | v4 Speed (Oxide) | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold build | 8s | 2.1s | 3.78x faster |
| Incremental | 450ms | 51ms | 8.8x faster |
| HMR (Hot Module Reload) | 350ms | 12ms | 28x faster |
| Memory usage | Higher | Lower | ~50% reduction |
# Node.js 18+ required for Oxide engine
node --version # Should be 18 or higher
# Install with Vite (recommended for best performance)
npm install tailwindcss @tailwindcss/vite
# Or PostCSS (also fast)
npm install tailwindcss @tailwindcss/postcss
npm install tailwindcss @tailwindcss/vite
// vite.config.js
import tailwindcss from "@tailwindcss/vite";
export default {
plugins: [tailwindcss()],
};
npm install -D tailwindcss @tailwindcss/postcss
// postcss.config.js
export default {
plugins: {
"@tailwindcss/postcss": {},
},
};
npm install -D @tailwindcss/cli
npx @tailwindcss/cli -i input.css -o output.css --watch
/* input.css */
@import "tailwindcss";
/* Your custom styles below */
That's it. No @tailwind base/components/utilities directives—they're gone.
Customize your design tokens directly in CSS using the @theme directive:
@import "tailwindcss";
@theme {
/* Custom colors */
--color-brand: oklch(65% 0.25 250);
--color-brand-light: oklch(75% 0.25 250);
--color-brand-dark: oklch(55% 0.25 250);
/* Custom fonts */
--font-display: "Clash Display", "sans-serif";
--font-body: "Satoshi", "sans-serif";
/* Custom spacing */
--spacing-18: 4.5rem;
--spacing-22: 5.5rem;
/* Custom breakpoints */
--breakpoint-3xl: 120rem;
/* Custom animations */
--animate-fade-in: fade-in 0.5s ease-out;
/* Shadow customization */
--shadow-card: 0 4px 6px -1px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1), 0 2px 4px -2px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1);
}
@keyframes fade-in {
from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(10px); }
to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
}
All theme values become CSS variables automatically:
/* These are automatically generated from @theme */
.btn {
background-color: var(--color-brand);
font-family: var(--font-display);
}
In your HTML, use them directly as utility values:
<button class="bg-brand hover:bg-brand-dark font-display px-4 py-2">
Click me
</button>
In v4, dark mode uses @media (prefers-color-scheme) by default—no config needed.
<!-- Automatically responds to OS preference -->
<div class="bg-white dark:bg-gray-900 text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100">
Hello, dark mode!
</div>
For manual toggle, add .dark class to <html> element:
<html class="dark">
<div class="bg-white dark:bg-gray-900">...</div>
</html>
No darkMode config option needed—it just works.
Create reusable utilities directly in CSS:
@utility container {
margin-inline: auto;
padding-inline: 1.5rem;
}
@utility tab-4 {
tab-size: 4;
}
@utility btn {
display: inline-flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
border-radius: 0.5rem;
padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
font-weight: 600;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
&:hover {
filter: brightness(1.1);
}
}
Usage in HTML:
<button class="btn bg-blue-600 text-white">Button</button>
<div class="tab-4">Code block</div>
<div class="container">Centered content</div>
Define your own variants:
/* Custom variant for external links */
@custom-variant external (&[rel="external"]);
/* Custom variant for touch devices */
@custom-variant touch (&:hover@media (hover: none));
Usage:
<a href="https://example.com" rel="external" class="external:text-blue-600">
External link
</a>
Common variants work the same as v3:
<button class="hover:bg-blue-600 focus:ring-2 active:scale-95 disabled:opacity-50">
Interactive Button
</button>
In v4, stacked variants apply left-to-right (CSS-like order):
<!-- v3 (right-to-left): -->
<div class="first:*:pt-0 last:*:pb-0">
<!-- v4 (left-to-right): -->
<div class="*:first:pt-0 *:last:pb-0">
</div>
Variables now use parentheses, not brackets:
<!-- v3 -->
<div class="bg-[--brand-color]">
<!-- v4 -->
<div class="bg-(--brand-color)">
Use underscores for spaces, not commas:
<!-- v3 -->
<div class="grid-cols-[max-content,auto]">
<!-- v4 -->
<div class="grid-cols-[max-content_auto]">
The ! now goes at the end of the utility:
<!-- v3 -->
<div class="!bg-red-500">
<!-- v4 -->
<div class="bg-red-500!">
Both work in v4, but the new syntax is preferred.
No more content array in config. Tailwind v4 automatically scans for classes in your project.
Need to keep your old tailwind.config.js? Use @config:
@import "tailwindcss";
@config "../../tailwind.config.js";
Note: corePlugins, safelist, and separator options are not supported in v4.
The @theme directive is the heart of v4 configuration. It defines design tokens that become CSS variables and utility classes.
@theme {
/* Brand colors using OKLCH - recommended for P3 gamut */
--color-brand: oklch(65% 0.25 250);
--color-brand-50: oklch(98% 0.02 250);
--color-brand-100: oklch(95% 0.05 250);
--color-brand-200: oklch(90% 0.1 250);
--color-brand-300: oklch(80% 0.15 250);
--color-brand-400: oklch(70% 0.2 250);
--color-brand-500: oklch(65% 0.25 250);
--color-brand-600: oklch(55% 0.25 250);
--color-brand-700: oklch(45% 0.25 250);
--color-brand-800: oklch(35% 0.25 250);
--color-brand-900: oklch(25% 0.25 250);
--color-brand-950: oklch(15% 0.2 250);
/* Semantic colors */
--color-success: #22c55e;
--color-warning: #f59e0b;
--color-error: #ef4444;
--color-info: #3b82f6;
/* Extend existing colors */
--color-blue-950: oklch(20% 0.15 240);
}
v4 uses OKLCH by default for better color accuracy:
/* Syntax: oklch(lightness chroma hue [opacity]) */
--color-primary: oklch(60% 0.18 250);
--color-translucent: oklch(60% 0.18 250 / 50%);
Benefits of OKLCH:
@theme {
/* Add custom spacing */
--spacing-18: 4.5rem;
--spacing-22: 5.5rem;
--spacing-26: 6.5rem;
--spacing-72: 18rem;
--spacing-84: 21rem;
--spacing-96: 24rem;
/* Spacing for specific use cases */
--spacing-header: 4rem;
--spacing-card: 1.5rem;
}
@theme {
/* Add custom breakpoints */
--breakpoint-3xl: 120rem;
--breakpoint-4xl: 140rem;
/* Modify existing */
--breakpoint-sm: 30rem; /* 480px */
--breakpoint-md: 40rem; /* 640px */
}
@theme {
/* Custom shadows */
--shadow-card: 0 4px 6px -1px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1), 0 2px 4px -2px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1);
--shadow-elevated: 0 10px 15px -3px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1), 0 4px 6px -4px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1);
--shadow-glow: 0 0 20px oklch(65% 0.25 250 / 50%);
--shadow-inner-lg: inset 0 2px 4px 0 rgb(0 0 0 / 0.05);
}
@theme {
/* Custom fonts */
--font-sans: "Inter", system-ui, sans-serif;
--font-display: "Clash Display", sans-serif;
--font-mono: "JetBrains Mono", monospace;
/* Font sizes */
--text-base: 1rem;
--text-lg: 1.125rem;
--text-xl: 1.25rem;
--text-2xl: 1.5rem;
--text-3xl: 1.875rem;
--text-4xl: 2.25rem;
--text-5xl: 3rem;
--text-6xl: 3.75rem;
--text-7xl: 4.5rem;
--text-8xl: 6rem;
--text-9xl: 8rem;
/* Line heights */
--leading-none: 1;
--leading-tight: 1.25;
--leading-snug: 1.375;
--leading-normal: 1.5;
--leading-relaxed: 1.625;
--leading-loose: 2;
/* Letter spacing */
--tracking-tighter: -0.05em;
--tracking-tight: -0.025em;
--tracking-normal: 0em;
--tracking-wide: 0.025em;
--tracking-wider: 0.05em;
--tracking-widest: 0.1em;
}
@theme {
/* Custom animations */
--animate-fade-in: fade-in 0.5s ease-out;
--animate-fade-out: fade-out 0.5s ease-out;
--animate-slide-in-up: slide-in-up 0.3s ease-out;
--animate-slide-in-down: slide-in-down 0.3s ease-out;
--animate-scale-in: scale-in 0.2s ease-out;
--animate-spin-slow: spin 2s linear infinite;
--animate-pulse-slow: pulse 3s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1) infinite;
--animate-bounce-slow: bounce 2s infinite;
--animate-shake: shake 0.5s ease-in-out;
/* Keyframes are still needed */
--animate-enter: enter 0.3s ease-out;
--animate-leave: leave 0.2s ease-in;
}
@keyframes fade-in {
from { opacity: 0; }
to { opacity: 1; }
}
@keyframes slide-in-up {
from { transform: translateY(100%); }
to { transform: translateY(0); }
}
@keyframes scale-in {
from { transform: scale(0.9); opacity: 0; }
to { transform: scale(1); opacity: 1; }
}
You can use CSS-wide keywords as values:
@theme {
/* Use initial to not extend the default */
--color-gray-500: initial; /* Removes the default gray-500 */
/* Use inherit when needed */
--color-inherit: inherit;
/* Use unset to reset */
--font-family: unset;
}
Use --inline-* to generate values that don't create CSS variables:
@theme {
--animate-bounce: bounce 1s infinite;
--animate-spin: spin 1s linear infinite;
/* These create variables but utilities also use them */
}
| Feature | v3 | v4 | Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import | @tailwind base/components/utilities | @import "tailwindcss" | Replace all directives |
| Config | tailwind.config.js | @theme in CSS | Rewrite to @theme |
| Ring | ring (3px default) | ring-3 | Add -3 suffix |
| Shadow | shadow | shadow-sm | Shift all shadows down |
| Shadow | shadow-sm | shadow-xs | Shift down |
| Shadow | shadow-md | shadow | Remove -md |
| Shadow | shadow-lg | shadow-md | Remove -lg |
| Shadow | shadow-xl | shadow-lg | Remove -xl |
| Shadow | shadow-2xl | shadow-xl | Remove -2xl |
| Outline | outline-none | outline-hidden | Rename utility |
| Border | gray-200 default | currentColor | Add explicit colors |
| Blur | blur | blur-sm | Add -sm suffix |
| Blur | blur-sm | blur-xs | Shift down |
| Blur | blur-md | blur | Remove -md |
| Blur | blur-lg | blur-md | Remove -lg |
| Blur | blur-xl | blur-lg | Remove -xl |
| Opacity | bg-opacity-50 | bg-red-500/50 | Use / modifier |
| Arbitrary | bg-[--var] | bg-(--var) | Change [] to () |
| Grid | grid-cols-[a,b] | grid-cols-[a_b] | Use _ not , |
| Important | !bg-red-500 | bg-red-500! | Move ! to end |
| Theme fn | theme('colors.red') | var(--color-red-500) | Use CSS variables |
| Dark mode | Config option | Automatic | Remove config |
| Separator | _ in arbitrary | _ | Same, but fewer cases |
| Preflight | Various resets | Updated | Check dialog/button |
Run the official upgrade tool:
npx @tailwindcss/upgrade
This handles most migration automatically.
Rename shadow utilities:
<!-- Change these -->
<div class="shadow"></div> <!-- now shadow-sm -->
<div class="shadow-sm"></div> <!-- now shadow-xs -->
Update ring utilities:
<!-- Change these -->
<input class="ring"> <!-- now ring-3 -->
Fix outline:
<!-- Change these -->
<input class="outline-none"> <!-- now outline-hidden -->
Update border colors:
<!-- Need to specify color now -->
<div class="border"> <!-- no longer gray-200 by default -->
<div class="border border-gray-200"> <!-- explicit -->
Space-between changes:
<!-- The selector changed -->
<div class="space-y-4">... <!-- now uses :not(:last-child) -->
<textarea class="field-sizing-content" placeholder="Auto-grows"></textarea>
<div class="@container">
<div class="@xs:bg-red-500 @lg:bg-blue-500">
Responsive to container, not viewport
</div>
</div>
<div class="transform-style-3d perspective-1000 rotate-x-45">
3D content
</div>
<div class="open:animate-fade-in" style="view-transition-name: modal">
Modal content
</div>
<div class="bg-linear-to-r from-red-500 via-orange-400 to-yellow-400">
Gradient with stops
</div>
Variants now preserve gradient values properly:
<!-- Dark mode now preserves all gradient stops -->
<div class="bg-linear-to-r from-red-500 to-yellow-400 dark:from-blue-500 dark:to-teal-400">
To reset a gradient stop in a variant:
<div class="bg-linear-to-r from-red-500 via-orange-400 to-yellow-400 dark:via-none">
Now uses currentColor at 50% opacity instead of gray-400.
Buttons now use cursor: default (browser default) instead of pointer.
Margins on <dialog> elements are now reset to 0.
In v4, styles in separate files (Vue <style>, Svelte, CSS modules) don't see theme variables by default. Use @reference:
<template>
<h1>Hello</h1>
</template>
<style>
@reference "../app.css";
h1 {
@apply text-2xl font-bold text-red-500;
}
</style>
npx @tailwindcss/upgrade to set up v4 correctlyclass="dark" to <html> for manual toggle@utility directive instead of @layer utilities@theme definitions is imported@tailwindcss/vite or @tailwindcss/postcssPrefixes now work like variants—always at the beginning:
<div class="tw:flex tw:bg-red-500 tw:hover:bg-red-600">
block, inline-block, flex, grid, inline-flex, inline-grid, hiddenstatic, relative, absolute, fixed, stickycontainer (customize with @utility container)flex-row, flex-col, flex-wrap, flex-1, flex-auto, flex-nonejustify-start, justify-center, justify-between, justify-around, justify-enditems-start, items-center, items-stretch, items-endgap-4, gap-x-4, gap-y-4, gap-4grid-cols-3, grid-rows-2, col-span-2, row-span-2w-full, w-auto, w-screen, h-full, h-screenmax-w-lg, max-w-screen-md, min-h-screen@container, @xs:, @sm:, @md:, @lg:, @xl:m-4, mx-4, my-4, mt-4, mr-4, mb-4, ml-4, -m-4p-4, px-4, py-4, pt-4, pr-4, pb-4, pl-4text-xs, text-sm, text-base, text-lg, text-xl, text-2xl, text-4xlfont-thin, font-light, font-normal, font-medium, font-bold, font-blackitalic, not-italic, uppercase, lowercase, capitalizeleading-none, leading-tight, leading-normal, leading-relaxed, leading-loosetracking-tighter, tracking-tight, tracking-normal, tracking-widebg-red-500, bg-[--custom-color], bg-(--variable)text-gray-700, text-transparentborder, border-2, border-gray-200, border-t-2, border-bbg-linear-to-r, bg-radial-gradient, bg-conic-gradientshadow-xs, shadow-sm, shadow, shadow-md, shadow-lg, shadow-xl, shadow-2xlopacity-0 through opacity-100, opacity-50/mix-blend-multiply, mix-blend-screen, mix-blend-overlayblur, blur-sm, blur-xs, brightness-50, contrast-50, grayscale, sepiatransition, transition-all, transition-colors, transition-opacity, transition-transformduration-75, duration-100, duration-200, duration-300, duration-500ease-linear, ease-in, ease-out, ease-in-outanimate-spin, animate-pulse, animate-bounce, animate-nonescale-0, scale-50, scale-75, scale-90, scale-95, scale-100, scale-105, scale-110, scale-125, scale-150rotate-0, rotate-1, rotate-2, rotate-12, rotate-45, rotate-90, rotate-180translate-x-0, translate-x-4, translate-y-4, translate-x-1/2perspective-0, perspective-1000, perspective-3dcursor-pointer, cursor-not-allowed, cursor-text, cursor-movepointer-events-none, pointer-events-autoselect-none, select-text, select-all, select-autoresize, resize-none, resize-y, resize-xfield-sizing-content, field-sizing-fixedhover:, focus:, active:, visited:, focus-within:, focus-visible:disabled:, disabled:opacity-50, disabled:cursor-not-allowedgroup, group-hover:, group-focus:, peer, peer-hover:motion-reduce:, motion-safe:dark:, @media (prefers-reduced-motion):first:, last:, odd:, even:, first-child:, last-child:, only:, empty:@theme for all custom design tokens@utility for reusable patternsvar(--color-*)) in JavaScript@config only for legacy projectstailwind.config.js for new projectstheme() function—use CSS variables insteadbg-(--var)npx @tailwindcss/upgrade@tailwind directives with @import "tailwindcss"tailwind.config.js to @theme in CSSring with ring-3shadow with shadow-sm, shadow-sm with shadow-xsoutline-none with outline-hidden[...] → (...)), → _)! to end of utility for important@utility@reference if needed