Tailwind CSS integration guide for React, Vue, Next.js, and other frameworks
Tailwind CSS Framework Integration
React with Vite
Setup
# Create React + Vite project
npm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react-ts
cd my-app
# Install Tailwind CSS
npm install -D tailwindcss @tailwindcss/vite
Configuration
// vite.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from 'vite'
import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react'
import tailwindcss from '@tailwindcss/vite'
export default defineConfig({
plugins: [react(), tailwindcss()]
})
/* src/index.css */
@import "tailwindcss";
// src/main.tsx
import React from 'react'
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom/client'
import App from './App'
import './index.css'
ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('root')!).render(
<React.StrictMode>
<App />
</React.StrictMode>
)
Component Example
// src/components/Button.tsx
interface ButtonProps {
variant?: 'primary' | 'secondary' | 'outline'
size?: 'sm' | 'md' | 'lg'
children: React.ReactNode
onClick?: () => void
}
const variants = {
primary: 'bg-blue-600 text-white hover:bg-blue-700',
secondary: 'bg-gray-200 text-gray-900 hover:bg-gray-300',
outline: 'border-2 border-blue-600 text-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-50'
}
const sizes = {
sm: 'px-3 py-1.5 text-sm',
md: 'px-4 py-2 text-base',
lg: 'px-6 py-3 text-lg'
}
export function Button({
variant = 'primary',
size = 'md',
children,
onClick
}: ButtonProps) {
return (
<button
onClick={onClick}
className={`
inline-flex items-center justify-center
font-medium rounded-lg
transition-colors duration-200
focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 focus:ring-offset-2
disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed
${variants[variant]}
${sizes[size]}
`}
>
{children}
</button>
)
}
Next.js
Setup (App Router)
# Create Next.js project (Tailwind included by default)
npx create-next-app@latest my-app
cd my-app
If adding to existing project:
npm install -D tailwindcss @tailwindcss/postcss
Configuration
// postcss.config.mjs
export default {
plugins: {
'@tailwindcss/postcss': {}
}
}
/* app/globals.css */
@import "tailwindcss";
@theme {
--color-primary: oklch(0.6 0.2 250);
}
// app/layout.tsx
import './globals.css'
export default function RootLayout({
children
}: {
children: React.ReactNode
}) {
return (
<html lang="en">
<body className="bg-white dark:bg-gray-900">{children}</body>
</html>
)
}
Server Components
Tailwind works seamlessly with React Server Components:
// app/page.tsx (Server Component)
export default function Home() {
return (
<main className="container mx-auto px-4 py-8">
<h1 className="text-4xl font-bold text-gray-900 dark:text-white">
Welcome
</h1>
<p className="mt-4 text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-300">
Server-rendered with Tailwind
</p>
</main>
)
}
Dark Mode with next-themes
npm install next-themes
// app/providers.tsx
'use client'
import { ThemeProvider } from 'next-themes'
export function Providers({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
return (
<ThemeProvider attribute="class" defaultTheme="system" enableSystem>
{children}
</ThemeProvider>
)
}
// app/layout.tsx
import { Providers } from './providers'
import './globals.css'
export default function RootLayout({
children
}: {
children: React.ReactNode
}) {
return (
<html lang="en" suppressHydrationWarning>
<body>
<Providers>{children}</Providers>
</body>
</html>
)
}
/* globals.css - Add dark mode variant */
@import "tailwindcss";
@custom-variant dark (&:where(.dark, .dark *));
Vue 3
Setup with Vite
npm create vue@latest my-app
cd my-app
npm install -D tailwindcss @tailwindcss/vite
Configuration
// vite.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from 'vite'
import vue from '@vitejs/plugin-vue'
import tailwindcss from '@tailwindcss/vite'
export default defineConfig({
plugins: [vue(), tailwindcss()]
})
/* src/assets/main.css */
@import "tailwindcss";
// src/main.ts
import { createApp } from 'vue'
import App from './App.vue'
import './assets/main.css'
createApp(App).mount('#app')
Component Example
<!-- src/components/Button.vue -->
<script setup lang="ts">
defineProps<{
variant?: 'primary' | 'secondary'
}>()
</script>
<template>
<button
class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg font-medium transition-colors"
:class="{
'bg-blue-600 text-white hover:bg-blue-700': variant === 'primary',
'bg-gray-200 text-gray-900 hover:bg-gray-300': variant === 'secondary'
}"
>
<slot />
</button>
</template>
Scoped Styles with @reference
<template>
<h1>Hello world!</h1>
</template>
<style scoped>
/* Reference global Tailwind definitions */
@reference "../../assets/main.css";
h1 {
@apply text-2xl font-bold text-blue-600;
}
</style>
Alternative: CSS Variables
<template>
<h1>Hello world!</h1>
</template>
<style scoped>
h1 {
/* Use CSS variables directly - better performance */
font-size: var(--text-2xl);
font-weight: var(--font-bold);
color: var(--color-blue-600);
}
</style>
Nuxt 3
Setup
npx nuxi init my-app
cd my-app
npm install -D tailwindcss @tailwindcss/postcss
Configuration
// postcss.config.mjs
export default {
plugins: {
'@tailwindcss/postcss': {}
}
}
/* assets/css/main.css */
@import "tailwindcss";
// nuxt.config.ts
export default defineNuxtConfig({
css: ['~/assets/css/main.css']
})
Svelte / SvelteKit
Setup
npm create svelte@latest my-app
cd my-app
npm install -D tailwindcss @tailwindcss/vite
Configuration
// vite.config.js
import { sveltekit } from '@sveltejs/kit/vite'
import tailwindcss from '@tailwindcss/vite'
import { defineConfig } from 'vite'
export default defineConfig({
plugins: [sveltekit(), tailwindcss()]
})
/* src/app.css */
@import "tailwindcss";
<!-- src/routes/+layout.svelte -->
<script>
import '../app.css'
</script>
<slot />
Component Example
<!-- src/lib/Button.svelte -->
<script lang="ts">
export let variant: 'primary' | 'secondary' = 'primary'
</script>
<button
class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg font-medium transition-colors
{variant === 'primary' ? 'bg-blue-600 text-white hover:bg-blue-700' : ''}
{variant === 'secondary' ? 'bg-gray-200 text-gray-900 hover:bg-gray-300' : ''}"
>
<slot />
</button>
Astro
Setup
npm create astro@latest my-app
cd my-app
npx astro add tailwind
Manual Setup
npm install -D tailwindcss @tailwindcss/vite
// astro.config.mjs
import { defineConfig } from 'astro/config'
import tailwindcss from '@tailwindcss/vite'
export default defineConfig({
vite: {
plugins: [tailwindcss()]
}
})
/* src/styles/global.css */
@import "tailwindcss";
<!-- src/layouts/Layout.astro -->
---
import '../styles/global.css'
---
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8" />
<title>My Site</title>
</head>
<body class="bg-white dark:bg-gray-900">
<slot />
</body>
</html>
Remix
Setup
npx create-remix@latest my-app
cd my-app
npm install -D tailwindcss @tailwindcss/vite
Configuration
// vite.config.ts
import { vitePlugin as remix } from '@remix-run/dev'
import { defineConfig } from 'vite'
import tailwindcss from '@tailwindcss/vite'
export default defineConfig({
plugins: [remix(), tailwindcss()]
})
/* app/tailwind.css */
@import "tailwindcss";
// app/root.tsx
import stylesheet from './tailwind.css?url'
import { Links } from '@remix-run/react'
export const links = () => [
{ rel: 'stylesheet', href: stylesheet }
]
export default function App() {
return (
<html>
<head>
<Links />
</head>
<body className="bg-white dark:bg-gray-900">
<Outlet />
</body>
</html>
)
}
Best Practices for All Frameworks
1. Use the Prettier Plugin
npm install -D prettier prettier-plugin-tailwindcss
// .prettierrc
{
"plugins": ["prettier-plugin-tailwindcss"]
}
2. Install VS Code Extension
code --install-extension bradlc.vscode-tailwindcss
3. Create Reusable Components
Don't repeat long class strings—extract components:
// Instead of repeating this everywhere:
<button className="px-4 py-2 bg-blue-600 text-white rounded-lg hover:bg-blue-700 transition-colors">
// Create a component:
<Button variant="primary">Click me</Button>
4. Use clsx or tailwind-merge for Conditional Classes
npm install clsx tailwind-merge
import { clsx } from 'clsx'
import { twMerge } from 'tailwind-merge'
function cn(...inputs: ClassValue[]) {
return twMerge(clsx(inputs))
}
// Usage
<div className={cn(
"base-class",
isActive && "active-class",
disabled && "opacity-50"
)} />
5. Configure Path Aliases
// tsconfig.json
{
"compilerOptions": {
"paths": {
"@/*": ["./src/*"],
"@/components/*": ["./src/components/*"]
}
}
}
import { Button } from '@/components/Button'
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