Unlock Your Web Design Creativity with Tailwind CSS: A Guide for CSS Developers
Tags: webdev, css, tailwindcss, react
Published: 2023-09-03 16:23:15



#Introduction
Are you a CSS developer looking to unleash your web design creativity? Look no further. In this article, we will provide you with the essential knowledge to achieve just that. We'll introduce you to Tailwind CSS, a cutting-edge CSS framework that we believe represents the future of web development. We'll explain why you should consider adopting it, guide you through the installation process on your PC, show you how to leverage it to design web apps, and even walk you through a tutorial project to apply what you've learned.

_<u>Prerequisites</u>_
To make the most of this article, you should have experience in web development using custom CSS and a fundamental understanding of HTML. Be prepared to put in some practice. Additionally, ensure you have a reliable PC with a stable internet connection.


Let's have a jump ahead:

**Table of Contents**
{%- # TOC start (generated with https://github.com/derlin/bitdowntoc) -%}

- [What is Tailwind CSS?](#what-is-tailwind-css)
- [Why Choose Tailwind CSS?](#why-choose-tailwind-css)
- [Companies using Tailwind CSS](#companies-using-tailwind-css)
- [Tailwind Component Libraries](#tailwind-component-libraries)
- [Common Misconceptions](#common-misconceptions)
- [Installation](#installation)
- [Tutorial Project](#tutorial-project)
- [Conclusion](#conclusion)
- [References](#references)

{%- # TOC end -%}

## What is Tailwind CSS?
Tailwind CSS is a utility-first framework that streamlines modern website development while keeping everything within your HTML. It simplifies the creation of responsive interfaces by applying small, single-purpose utility classes directly to HTML elements. With Tailwind CSS, you can style web layouts and components efficiently, manipulating colors, margins, and padding. Say goodbye to writing custom CSS for every element; Tailwind CSS empowers you to combine utility classes for your desired design and functionality.

**The History and Impact of Tailwind CSS**
Developed by Adam Wathan and released on GitHub in 2017, Tailwind CSS has garnered attention from developers and companies worldwide. It has revolutionized the styling game, making web development faster and more efficient.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the future of CSS development. Let's dive in and unlock your web design creativity with Tailwind CSS!

## Why Choose Tailwind CSS?
As a CSS developer transitioning from Custom CSS, you might wonder why you should opt for Tailwind CSS over other CSS frameworks that your developer peers often discuss. I can offer several compelling reasons for my switch to Tailwind CSS, which I'll outline below:

- One of the primary motivations for choosing Tailwind CSS is its ability to facilitate the creation of custom components from scratch using the '@apply' directive. Additionally, it allows seamless customization of themes within the 'tailwind.config.js' file. This sets it apart from other frameworks, which typically offer pre-built components with limited customization options. You must note that you can still incorporate your custom CSS and HTML as needed.

- Within this framework, there's no need to stress about crafting precise CSS class names. With Tailwind CSS, developers can bypass the hassle of naming CSS classes and instead directly utilize utility classes within their HTML, eliminating the need to define class names explicitly.
Sample code:
``<div class=” p-4 bg-blue-500 text-white rounded cursor-pointer”>Button</div>``
This approach significantly streamlines a developer's workflow, as they spend less time thinking about naming conventions and can focus more on writing efficient code.

- In Tailwind CSS, there's no need to apply the BEM (Block, Element, Modifier) method. BEM is typically used as a naming convention for crafting clean and understandable CSS code, especially in extensive web development projects where CSS can become complex. Unlike custom CSS, Tailwind CSS doesn't require the BEM method. Instead, you can directly employ utility-first classes without the need to worry about naming conventions.
For instance, consider the following CSS code applying the BEM method:
``<!--html-->
<div class=”button button—primary”>Click me</div>``

```
/* CSS */
.button {
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 0.25rem;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.button--primary {
  background-color: #007bff;
  color: white;
}
```
In contrast, the Tailwind CSS equivalent of the above custom CSS code is much more concise:
``<div class”bg-blue-500 text-white py-2 px-4 rounded cursor-pointer”>Click me</div>``
As you can see, the BEM method involves defining the button class name and its modifier, resulting in more lines of code. In Tailwind CSS, everything is accomplished in a single code line by applying utility classes to the HTML element.

- Tailwind CSS excels in creating efficient and optimized web applications. This framework adopts a utility-first approach, allowing developers to craft clean and maintainable code effortlessly.

- Tailwind CSS incorporates JIT (Just in Time) compilers and utilizes a special syntax. These features facilitate style customization, enhance browser performance, ensure consistency in development, and empower developers to work faster. As you delve deeper into Tailwind, you will gain a deeper understanding of the JIT compiler.

- Tailwind CSS empowers developers to create anything they desire. Here, you have the freedom to construct your projects in a manner that suits your preferences, using the same or related components, all without the worry that your final product will resemble anything you've built before. The versatility of Tailwind allows you to apply distinct styles to various websites, even when using similar components. Consequently, this capability accelerates your development process, enabling you to deliver efficient solutions to your customers, ultimately enhancing development efficiency.
Below, you'll find images showcasing various components built using the same coding style. Despite their shared foundation, you'll notice that each one possesses a unique and distinctive appearance.

![Beautiful CSS designs](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/vhumvzfpqwh68058spzp.png)

![Beautiful CSS designs](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/tau3kedl5opg0h0ock6y.png)

![Beautiful CSS designs](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/lxt3w1mewsv6hm2vapi2.png)

![Beautiful CSS designs](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/hxn7sqnc4qlc945fguwz.png)

- In Tailwind CSS, components take the lead. Tailwind CSS offers a plethora of pre-built components for buttons, profile cards, avatars, forms, and more. This is a boon for React developers, as it eliminates the need for extensive Tailwind CSS customization and the tedious task of writing extensive lines of code. By utilizing these components, you can avoid repetitive utility classes, streamlining your development workflow. When working in React, consider creating a dedicated component for styles needed in multiple files to enhance code reusability. Additionally, I recommend delving deeper into various component handling techniques from Tailwind CSS's official site.

- Tailwind CSS also excels in facilitating the creation of mobile-responsive web applications. Say goodbye to the constant struggle with numerous media queries in custom CSS, which can be quite vexing. Tailwind CSS provides responsive utility variants that effortlessly adapt user interfaces to various devices. Below, you'll find a handy list of utilities for common devices, default breakpoints, and their prefixes, along with CSS media queries:

 

```
 sm   :640px     min-width: 640px
 md   :768       min-width: 768px
 lg   :1024px    min-width: 1024px
 xl   :1280      min-width: 1280px
 2xl  :1536px    min-width: 1536px
```

For a practical demonstration of these utilities in action, explore the sample code snippets and their corresponding responsive outputs below.

![Responsive Tailwind](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/5x3kef1r84dco3wnwa5s.png)

![Responsive Tailwind](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/yzj29tedjytutko6sqcr.png)

![Responsive Tailwind](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/mvml4jrfcg7qozczr49a.png)

- Tailwind CSS is packed with the latest and most advanced CSS features. It offers utilities for CSS grid and flexbox, captivating animations, and even supports the trendy dark mode. These features represent the cutting edge of web design, enhancing your ability to create modern and stylish websites using CSS.

- This framework provides essential editor tools like Tailwind CSS IntelliSense, seamlessly integrated into popular IDEs like Visual Studio Code. This integration streamlines development by enabling autocomplete and other productivity-enhancing features.

![Tailwind Intellisense](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0vjfu7g2aple3az2mg5k.png)

- For Tailwind CSS developers, a vast array of ready-made components awaits. In addition to those created by the founding company, numerous Tailwind Component Libraries offer thousands of components designed in various styles. This wealth of resources accelerates interface development, eliminating the need to start from scratch. Further details on the most popular Tailwind CSS framework component libraries can be found below.

- Furthermore, the demand for developers skilled in Tailwind CSS has surged recently. Many companies now rely on Tailwind for their frontends, opening up opportunities for collaboration on open-source projects as more developers embrace Tailwind CSS.
For a visual representation of Tailwind CSS's adoption and usage trends, refer to the graph from [W3techs](https://w3techs.com) below:
![Trending Tailwind CSS](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/qlzrkfpfvulj25er4f4f.jpg)

## Companies using Tailwind CSS
The list of companies using the Tailwind CSS framework in their web apps is endless. Here are the main ones:
•	Open AI – parent of the prominent Chat GPT
•	Coursera
•	Netflix Global Top 10
•	Loom
•	The Verge
•	Coin Base NFT
•	Shopify
•	Twitch 
•	Mashable
•	And many more.


## Tailwind Component Libraries
There are various Tailwind component libraries some of which include the following:

1.	Tailwind UI
This is a premium collection of meticulously crafted user interface components and templates built using the Tailwind CSS framework.

2.	Headless UI
A set of styled, fully accessible UI components that can be used as a foundation for creating custom designs. Built by creators of Tailwind CSS.

3.	Shadcn
Shadcn combines the power of Tailwind with artistic designs. Beautifully designed components built with Radix UI and Tailwind CSS.

4.	Tailkit
Tailkit provides a comprehensive set of carefully crafted, easy-to-customize, fully responsive UI components, Templates, and Tools for your tailwind CSS.

5.	Radix UI
Radix UI is a cutting-edge toolkit designed to create advanced UI components with an emphasis on accessibility and user experience.

6.	Preline 
Preline UI is an open-source set of prebuilt UI components based on the utility-first Tailwind CSS framework. With a focus on high–quality design.

7.	Daisy UI 
The most popular component library for Tailwind CSS. Daisy UI adds component class names to Tailwind CSS so you can make beautiful websites faster than ever.
8.	Hyper UI
Explore an extensive array of ready-to-use components, organized into three distinct categories: marketing, e-commerce, and applications.

9.	Sailboat UI
Contemporary Tailwind CSS component library with 150+ rich components for app and product development. Each offers multiple variations to suit your requirements.

10.	Tailwind Elements
With more than 500 tailwind components. These components are based on the Bootstrap framework, but they have better designs and are a lot more functional.

11.	Tailwind Templates
This is a library that contains a wide variety of free and paid templates. They have a collection of around 25 templates mostly geared toward startup and SaaS (Software as a Service).

12.	Tailwindblocks
A collection of predefined Tailwind CSS components designed to facilitate rapid website prototyping and development.

13.	Mamba UI
It offers a wide selection of 150+ Tailwind components and templates with versatile styles. It's adaptable to various frameworks like Angular, Vue, React, Svelte, etc.

14.	Sira
Sira a design system with reusable components. Compatible with Vue, React, Svelte, etc. offers themes, dark mode, and predefined Tailwind styles.

15.	TailwindGrids
Containing over 500 complementary and premium components, blocks, sections, and templates, this kit offers an extensive selection.


The ones mentioned above represent the most common component libraries, and I strongly recommend trying some of them while working on your projects. Reading this article and diving into Tailwind CSS will be a decision you won't regret.

## Common Misconceptions
Some developers mistakenly compare Tailwind CSS to inline CSS, which is not a good practice. However, this is a misconception. Tailwind CSS is not the same as inline CSS. Unlike inline CSS, Tailwind allows you to use animation properties like pseudo-classes and media queries. Additionally, it promotes a utility-first approach, resulting in fewer CSS classes compared to inline CSS.

## Installation
My first experience transitioning to Tailwind was challenging. I didn't have prior knowledge of JavaScript or npm. Installing Tailwind required watching tutorials and reading articles, which took me about a week. However, this article integrates all the necessary information for a smoother experience. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Visit the official [Node.js website](https://nodejs.org/en/download/current) and install Node.js, which includes the Node Package Manager (npm).
Create an empty folder on your PC and open it in your preferred IDE. Visual Studio Code is recommended.
Open the terminal using Ctrl + ` and follow these steps:

a. Visit Tailwind CSS's official site: [Tailwind CSS](https://tailwindcss.com/)
b. Click the 'Get Started' button.

![Install Taiwlind for React](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/p2oblgke6cqus3j8lj7o.png)
Go to the Framework guides;

![Install Taiwlind for React](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7g9l8pdzzf4yocbccjui.png)

Choose the Vite framework;

![Install Taiwlind for React](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/dscxg27b85i56yp39l8v.png)
c. For future applications, we are considering installing Tailwind using the Vite framework, as recommended for React, the reason for choosing Vite is shown below;

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/tqcnnd1ilnr3fruobplu.png)
You can follow the detailed procedures in the provided link: [Install Tailwind CSS using Vite](https://tailwindcss.com/docs/guides/vite)

## Tutorial Project
To help you apply everything covered in this article, we've created a tutorial on designing a calculator using Tailwind CSS.
The code is below:

```<div class="w-64 mx-auto p-4 bg-gray-200 rounded-lg shadow-md">
  <input type="text" class="w-full p-2 mb-2 bg-white border rounded" disabled>
  <div class="grid grid-cols-4 gap-2">
    <button class="col-span-2 p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">7</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">8</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">9</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-orange-500 text-white rounded hover:bg-orange-600">/</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">4</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">5</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">6</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-orange-500 text-white rounded hover:bg-orange-600">*</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">1</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">2</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">3</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-orange-500 text-white rounded hover:bg-orange-600">-</button>
    <button class="col-span-2 p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">0</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-gray-300 rounded hover:bg-gray-400">.</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-orange-500 text-white rounded hover:bg-orange-600">=</button>
    <button class="p-2 bg-orange-500 text-white rounded hover:bg-orange-600">+</button>
    <button class="col-span-2 p-2 bg-red-500 text-white rounded hover:bg-red-600">C</button>
  </div>
</div>```
The output is shown below;

![Tailwind CSS calculator](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/1ac1lf5hs6l86zidh7qn.png)

## Conclusion
Congratulations on making it this far! If you're wondering how to master all these utility classes, remember that practice makes perfect. Utilize the official site's documentation for guidance.
For practice on using the various utilities outside projects, I recommend using [Tailwind Play](https://play.tailwindcss.com/)

Thanks for learning with me! Follow for more articles on Frontend Development, JavaScript, and Best Practices in Software Development.

## References
- [Javascript Mastery Tailwind Starter Kit](https://jsmastery.pro)
- [Tailwind CSS Official site](https://tailwindcss.com)