Tailwind CSS Variables
This plugin allows you to configure CSS variables in the tailwind.config.js
Similar to the tailwindcss configurations you are used to. It is also possible to define a different group of variables for Dark Mode. Alternatively, it has an API that you can use for your own plugins.
Highlights
- Variables are as easy as defining tailwindcss colors...
- You can designate the variables to
:rootor custom CSS selectors. - Variables can be formed through using nested object notation.
- Different variables can be composed for the Dark Mode.
- Dark Mode variables are set automatically through the
classormediamodes on your configuration. - If
darkModeconfig are set asclass, custom dark selector can be defined. - It allows you to add custom themes while creating your own plugin via the plugin API.
- Prefix can be defined for variables. (It is useful when using the plugin API)
- You can configure your own needs such as multi-themes without needing an additional plugin!
Documentation
| Language | Documentation link |
|---|---|
| English | Documentation |
| Turkish | Dökümantasyon |
Installation
npm install -D @mertasan/tailwindcss-variables
Playground
Simple example: https://play.tailwindcss.com/og38aGxa8a
Usage
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'var(--colors-red-50)'
}
}
variables: {
DEFAULT: {
sizes: {
small: '1rem',
button: {
size: '2rem'
}
},
colors: {
red: {
50: '#ff3232',
},
},
},
'.container': {
sizes: {
medium: '1.5rem',
},
},
},
},
plugins: [
require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables')
]
}
Output:
:root {
--sizes-small: 1rem;
--sizes-button-size: 2rem;
--colors-red-50: #ff3232
}
.container {
--sizes-medium: 1.5rem
}
Dark Mode
with the class mode
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
darkMode: 'class',
theme: {
variables: {
DEFAULT: {
sizes: {
small: '1rem',
},
colors: {
red: {
50: 'red',
},
},
},
'.container': {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'indigo',
},
},
},
},
darkVariables: {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'blue',
},
},
},
'.container': {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'green',
},
},
},
},
},
plugins: [
require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables')
]
}
Output:
:root {
--sizes-small: 1rem;
--colors-red-50: red
}
.container {
--colors-red-50: indigo
}
:root.dark {
--colors-red-50: blue
}
:root.dark .container {
--colors-red-50: green
}
with the darkToRoot and darkSelector configurations
If the darkModeconfiguration is set as 'class' in your tailwindcss configuration, you can change and customize the darkToRoot and darkSelector settings.
| Option | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| darkSelector | string | .dark | CSS selector used for Dark mode. |
| darkToRoot | bool | true | Does the selector defined asdarkSelector being used as :root ? |
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
darkMode: 'class',
theme: {
variables: {
DEFAULT: {
sizes: {
small: '1rem',
},
colors: {
red: {
50: 'red',
},
},
},
'.container': {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'indigo',
},
},
},
},
darkVariables: {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'blue',
},
},
},
'.container': {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'green',
},
},
},
},
},
plugins: [
require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables')({
darkToRoot: false,
darkSelector: '.custom-dark-selector',
})
]
}
Output:
:root {
--sizes-small: 1rem;
--colors-red-50: red
}
.container {
--colors-red-50: indigo
}
.custom-dark-selector {
--colors-red-50: blue
}
.custom-dark-selector .container {
--colors-red-50: green
}
with the media mode
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
darkMode: 'media',
theme: {
variables: {
DEFAULT: {
sizes: {
small: '1rem',
},
colors: {
red: {
50: 'red',
},
},
},
'.container': {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'indigo',
},
},
},
},
darkVariables: {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'blue',
},
},
},
'.container': {
colors: {
red: {
50: 'green',
},
},
},
},
},
plugins: [
require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables')
]
}
Output:
:root {
--sizes-small: 1rem;
--colors-red-50: red
}
.container {
--colors-red-50: indigo
}
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
:root {
--colors-red-50: blue
}
.container {
--colors-red-50: green
}
}
Prefix
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
variables: {
DEFAULT: {
sizes: {
small: '1rem',
button: {
size: '2rem'
}
},
colors: {
red: {
50: '#ff3232',
},
},
},
'.container': {
sizes: {
medium: '1.5rem',
},
},
},
},
plugins: [
require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables')({
variablePrefix: '--admin'
})
]
}
Output:
:root {
--admin-sizes-small: 1rem;
--admin-sizes-button-size: 2rem;
--admin-colors-red-50: #ff3232
}
.container {
--admin-sizes-medium: 1.5rem
}
Nested object notation
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
variables: {
DEFAULT: {
sizes: {
DEFAULT: '1px',
small: '1rem',
admin: {
DEFAULT: '2px',
buttons: {
colors: {
red: {
DEFAULT: '#ffffff',
500: '#ff0000',
600: '#e60000',
}
}
}
}
},
}
},
},
plugins: [
require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables')
]
}
:root {
--sizes: 1px;
--sizes-small: 1rem;
--sizes-admin: 2px;
--sizes-admin-buttons-colors-red-500: #ff0000;
--sizes-admin-buttons-colors-red-600: #e60000;
--sizes-admin-buttons-colors-red: #ffffff
}
Rules for keys of variables
Variable keys can only include designated characters. Other characters will be automatically removed. Because using underscores (_) on objects is allowed, underscores will be transformed into middle dashes (-).
Rule:
/[^a-z0-9\-]+/gi
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| hello[$&+,:;=?@#'<>.-^*()%!]world | hello-world |
| hello__world | hello-world |
| css_variables_for-tailwindcss | css-variables-for-tailwindcss |
Here's an example:
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
variables: {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
'hello[$&+,:;=?@#|\'<>.-^*()%!]world': '100%',
underscore_to_dash: '100%',
'underscore_to_dash-with-dash': '100%',
auto_dash: '100%',
},
},
'[type=\'button\']': {
'hello[$&+,:;=?@#|\'<>.-^*()%!]world': '100%',
underscore_to_dash: '100%',
'underscore_to_dash-with-dash': '100%',
auto_dash: '100%',
nested_auto_dash: {
color_primary: '100%',
},
},
},
},
plugins: [
require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables')
]
}
Output:
:root {
--colors-hello-world: 100%;
--colors-underscore-to-dash: 100%;
--colors-underscore-to-dash-with-dash: 100%;
--colors-auto-dash: 100%
}
[type='button'] {
--hello-world: 100%;
--underscore-to-dash: 100%;
--underscore-to-dash-with-dash: 100%;
--auto-dash: 100%;
--nested-auto-dash-color-primary: 100%
}
Helpers
colorVariable()
You can use the colorVariable helper to add text-opacity or bg-opacity to the variables for which colors are defined.
// tailwind.config.js
const colorVariable = require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables/colorVariable')
module.exports = {
theme: {
screens: false,
colors: {
primary: colorVariable('--colors-primary'), // HEX (3 digits)
secondary: colorVariable('var(--colors-secondary)'), // HEX (6 digits)
white: '#ffffff', // no variable
blue: colorVariable('var(--colors-blue)'), // RGB
red: {
400: colorVariable('var(--colors-red-400)'), // RGBA
500: colorVariable('var(--colors-red-500)'), // RGBA
600: 'var(--colors-red-500)', // RGBA (without using colorVariable() helper)
},
gray: 'var(--colors-gray)', // HEX (6 digits) (without using colorVariable() helper)
green: 'var(--colors-green)', // RGB (without using colorVariable() helper)
},
variables: {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
primary: '#ff0',
secondary: '#000000',
gray: '#6B7280',
blue: 'rgb(0,0,254)',
red: {
400: 'rgba(254,0,0,0.5)',
500: 'rgba(254,0,0,1)',
},
green: 'rgb(0,255,0)',
},
sizes: {
small: '10px',
medium: '2rem',
large: '100%',
},
},
},
},
plugins: [
require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables'){
colorVariables: true
}
]
}
Purge:
<div class="text-primary text-opacity-50"></div>
<div class="bg-secondary bg-opacity-50"></div>
<div class="bg-gray bg-opacity-50"></div>
<div class="text-blue text-opacity-50"></div>
<div class="bg-red-400"></div>
<div class="bg-red-500"></div>
<div class="bg-red-600"></div>
<div class="bg-green bg-opacity-50"></div>
<div class="bg-white bg-opacity-50"></div>
Output:
:root {
--colors-primary: #ff0;
--colors-secondary: #000000;
--colors-gray: #6B7280;
--colors-blue: rgb(0,0,254);
--colors-red-400: rgba(254,0,0,0.5);
--colors-red-500: rgba(254,0,0,1);
--colors-red-400-rgb: 254,0,0;
--colors-red-500-rgb: 254,0,0;
--colors-green: rgb(0,255,0);
--colors-primary-rgb: 255,255,0;
--colors-secondary-rgb: 0,0,0;
--colors-gray-rgb: 107,114,128;
--colors-blue-rgb: 0,0,254;
--colors-green-rgb: 0,255,0;
--sizes-small: 10px;
--sizes-medium: 2rem;
--sizes-large: 100%
}
.text-primary {
--tw-text-opacity: 1;
color: rgba(var(--colors-primary-rgb), var(--tw-text-opacity))
}
.text-blue {
--tw-text-opacity: 1;
color: rgba(var(--colors-blue-rgb), var(--tw-text-opacity))
}
.text-opacity-50 {
--tw-text-opacity: 0.5
}
.bg-secondary {
--tw-bg-opacity: 1;
background-color: rgba(var(--colors-secondary-rgb), var(--tw-bg-opacity))
}
.bg-white {
--tw-bg-opacity: 1;
background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, var(--tw-bg-opacity))
}
.bg-red-400 {
--tw-bg-opacity: 1;
background-color: rgba(var(--colors-red-400-rgb), var(--tw-bg-opacity))
}
.bg-red-500 {
--tw-bg-opacity: 1;
background-color: rgba(var(--colors-red-500-rgb), var(--tw-bg-opacity))
}
.bg-red-600 {
background-color: var(--colors-red-500)
}
.bg-gray {
background-color: var(--colors-gray)
}
.bg-green {
background-color: var(--colors-green)
}
.bg-opacity-50 {
--tw-bg-opacity: 0.5
}
API example for your own plugins
// tailwind.config.js
const plugin = require('tailwindcss/plugin')
const variablesApi = require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables/api')
let variableOptions = {
variablePrefix: '--myplugin'
}
const pluginVariables = {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
primary: 'black',
secondary: 'white',
warning: 'orange',
},
},
}
const pluginDarkVariables = {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
primary: 'red',
secondary: 'yellow',
warning: 'green',
},
},
}
module.exports = {
plugins: [
plugin(function({ addComponents, config }) {
addComponents(variablesApi.variables(pluginVariables, variableOptions))
addComponents(variablesApi.darkVariables(pluginDarkVariables, variableOptions, config('darkMode'))) // darkMode: class
})
]
}
Output:
:root {
--myplugin-colors-primary: black;
--myplugin-colors-secondary: white;
--myplugin-colors-warning: orange
}
:root.dark {
--myplugin-colors-primary: red;
--myplugin-colors-secondary: yellow;
--myplugin-colors-warning: green
}
API component helper
You can also use tailwindcss-variables plugin API to register your components.
// tailwind.config.js
const plugin = require('tailwindcss/plugin')
const variablesApi = require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables/api')
let variableOptions = {
variablePrefix: '--myplugin'
}
const pluginVariables = {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
primary: 'black',
secondary: 'white',
warning: 'orange',
},
},
}
const pluginDarkVariables = {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
primary: 'red',
secondary: 'yellow',
warning: 'green',
},
},
}
module.exports = {
plugins: [
plugin(function({ addComponents, config }) {
const formComponents = {
select: {
DEFAULT: {
backgroundColor: 'var(--myplugin-colors-primary)',
},
multi: {
'&.default-multi': {
backgroundColor: 'var(--myplugin-colors-secondary)',
},
'&.other-multi': {
backgroundColor: 'var(--myplugin-colors-warning)',
},
},
},
}
addComponents(variablesApi.variables(pluginVariables, variableOptions))
addComponents(variablesApi.darkVariables(pluginDarkVariables, variableOptions, config('darkMode'))) // darkMode: class
// Automatically register components via API.
addComponents(variablesApi.getComponents('.form', formComponents))
})
]
}
Output:
:root {
--myplugin-colors-primary: black;
--myplugin-colors-secondary: white;
--myplugin-colors-warning: orange;
}
:root.dark {
--myplugin-colors-primary: red;
--myplugin-colors-secondary: yellow;
--myplugin-colors-warning: green;
}
.form-select {
background-color: var(--myplugin-colors-primary);
}
.form-select.default-multi {
background-color: var(--myplugin-colors-secondary);
}
.form-select.other-multi {
background-color: var(--myplugin-colors-warning);
}
Detailed example of the API
What are the advantages?
Imagine you are creating a form builder (PHP) package for Laravel. In this case, I am sure there will be a lot of styles to customize. Nonetheless, one of the most necessary things is the colors! You'll develop the components with the colors you pick out. Of course these colors can be customized with the vendor:publish command but you can make it simpler for everyone. Users can customize the colors for their own likings and if they wish they can also configure your plugin for the dark mode as well. This way, users don't have to alter the .css or .blade.php files for some small and simple customizations. Thus, they can use your package with up to date components and can adapt to future version updates. If you have read this statement, it means that now you know why this plugin came about. :)
What are the disadvantages?
If you have any ideas, please don't refrain to send a PR.
Resources on this example:
Your own plugin themes:
// myplugin/themes.js
module.exports = (theme) => ({
themes: {
DEFAULT: {
colors: {
primary: 'black',
secondary: 'white',
warning: 'orange',
},
}
}
})
Your own plugin components:
// myplugin/components.js
module.exports = (theme) => ({
select: {
DEFAULT: {
backgroundColor: 'var(--forms-colors-primary)',
},
multi: {
'.default-multi': {
backgroundColor: 'var(--forms-colors-secondary)',
},
'.other-multi': {
backgroundColor: 'var(--forms-colors-warning)',
},
},
},
})
Your own plugin source:
// myplugin/index.js
const plugin = require('tailwindcss/plugin')
const _ = require('lodash')
const variablesApi = require('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables/api')
const pluginComponents = require('./components')
const pluginThemes = require('./themes')
module.exports = plugin.withOptions(
function (options) {
return function ({addComponents, theme, config}) {
let variableOptions = {
variablePrefix: theme('myPlugin.prefix', '--forms')
};
addComponents(variablesApi.variables(_.merge(pluginThemes(theme).themes, {DEFAULT: theme('myPlugin.options', {})}), variableOptions))
let darkVariables = theme('myPlugin.darkOptions', {});
if (!_.isEmpty(darkVariables)) {
addComponents(variablesApi.darkVariables(darkVariables, variableOptions, config('darkMode')))
}
// Automatically register components via API.
addComponents(variablesApi.getComponents('.form', pluginComponents(theme)))
}
}
)
User config: (tailwind.config.js)
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
myPlugin: {
options: {
colors: {
primary: 'indigo', // custom color instead of default color
}
}
},
},
variants: {},
plugins: [require('my-plugin')],
}
Output:
:root {
--forms-colors-primary: indigo; /* <<< default color changed via root configuration */
--forms-colors-secondary: white;
--forms-colors-warning: orange;
}
.form-select {
background-color: var(--forms-colors-primary);
}
.form-select .default-multi {
background-color: var(--forms-colors-secondary);
}
.form-select .other-multi {
background-color: var(--forms-colors-warning);
}
Based on these examples, it won't be necessary to publish extra .css flies for your plugin styles and also, it won't be necessary for the users to sort out your style files to compile your packages.
Examples and tests
I have prepared examples on both helping with the usage and for testing all of the features that's being offered to make sure it works just fine.
| Source | State |
|---|---|
| Examples | |
| Plugin API Examples |  |
| Tests | |
| Travis CI | |
Documents on examples and tests are re-organized on pull-request, push, release and etc. events. For this reason, file paths like
require(../index)have been used on the example files. If you were to use the examples, you need to change the relevant lines asrequire('@mertasan/tailwindcss-variables').
If You Need Help
Please send any questions and issues through GitHub issues. I will try my best to help you.
Contribution
If you are to improve or/and add new features, please feel free to send pull-requests.
License
The GPL-3.0 License (GNU General Public License 3.0)
Please see License File for more information.
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