| name | css-border-gradient |
| description | Create and apply CSS gradient borders using a pseudo-element mask (the .border-gradient::before technique), including Tailwind-friendly usage and customization of angle, colors, border thickness, and radius. Use when asked for gradient borders, border glow, or the specific mask-composite border gradient snippet. |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| updated | 2026-03-17 |
CSS Border Gradient Skill
Workflow
- Confirm environment (plain CSS vs Tailwind) and gather missing specs (border radius, thickness, angle, colors).
- Provide the baseline snippet and a short usage checklist.
- Offer focused tweaks only (change angle, colors, thickness, radius) and avoid redesigning the component.
Baseline snippet
.border-gradient {
position: relative;
}
.border-gradient::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
border-radius: 10px;
padding: 1px;
-webkit-mask: linear-gradient(#fff 0 0) content-box,
linear-gradient(#fff 0 0);
-webkit-mask-composite: xor;
mask-composite: exclude;
background: linear-gradient(225deg,
rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0) 0%,
rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2) 50%,
rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0) 100%);
pointer-events: none;
}
Usage checklist
- Insert the snippet in global CSS or the page
<head>.
- Add
border-gradient to the element.
- Remove any existing
border styles.
- Match the element radius to the pseudo-element radius.
Tailwind example
<div class="border-gradient rounded-lg before:rounded-lg">
...
</div>
If a project uses Tailwind layers, wrap the class in @layer utilities.
Customization knobs
- Thickness: change
padding (for example 2px).
- Radius: change
border-radius or the before:rounded-* class.
- Angle: change the
linear-gradient(225deg, ...) angle.
- Colors: adjust the
rgba(...) stops to fit the theme.
Common pitfalls
- Mismatched radius between the element and pseudo-element.
- Leaving an existing border on the element (double border).
- Tailwind purge removing the class because it is not referenced in content files.
Questions to ask when specs are missing
- What border radius and thickness do you want?
- What gradient angle and colors should it use?
- Is this for light, dark, or both themes?
