Building a Dark Mode Toggle in React With Tailwind CSS

Building a Dark Mode Toggle in React With Tailwind CSS Dark mode is a popular feature that improves readability and reduces eye strain in low-light environments. With Tailwind CSS and React, implementing a toggle between light and dark themes is straightforward. In this guide, we’ll walk through the process step by step. Step 1: Set Up Your React App Start by creating a new React project using Vite or Create React App. npx create-react-app dark-mode-toggle cd dark-mode-toggle npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer npx tailwindcss init -p Then configure your tailwind.config.js like this: module.exports = { content: ["./src/**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}"], darkMode: 'class', theme: { extend: {}, }, plugins: [], } Step 2: Create the Toggle Functionality In your main component (e.g., App.js), use state to toggle a dark class on the root element: import { useEffect, useState } from "react"; function App() { const [darkMode, setDarkMode] = useState(false); useEffect(() => { if (darkMode) { document.documentElement.classList.add("dark"); } else { document.documentElement.classList.remove("dark"); } }, [darkMode]); return ( setDarkMode(!darkMode)} className="px-4 py-2 rounded bg-gray-200 dark:bg-gray-800"> Toggle Dark Mode ); } export default App; Step 3: Styling With Tailwind’s Dark Classes Use Tailwind’s dark: prefix to style elements differently in dark mode. In the example above, we changed background and text colors based on the mode. Conclusion With React and Tailwind CSS, adding a dark mode toggle is quick and highly customizable. This is a great way to enhance user experience and make your projects feel more polished. If this post helped you, consider supporting me: buymeacoffee.com/hexshift

Apr 11, 2025 - 03:06

Building a Dark Mode Toggle in React With Tailwind CSS

Dark mode is a popular feature that improves readability and reduces eye strain in low-light environments. With Tailwind CSS and React, implementing a toggle between light and dark themes is straightforward. In this guide, we’ll walk through the process step by step.

Step 1: Set Up Your React App

Start by creating a new React project using Vite or Create React App.

npx create-react-app dark-mode-toggle
cd dark-mode-toggle
npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer
npx tailwindcss init -p

Then configure your tailwind.config.js like this:

module.exports = {
  content: ["./src/**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}"],
  darkMode: 'class',
  theme: {
    extend: {},
  },
  plugins: [],
}

Step 2: Create the Toggle Functionality

In your main component (e.g., App.js), use state to toggle a dark class on the root element:

import { useEffect, useState } from "react";

function App() {
  const [darkMode, setDarkMode] = useState(false);

  useEffect(() => {
    if (darkMode) {
      document.documentElement.classList.add("dark");
    } else {
      document.documentElement.classList.remove("dark");
    }
  }, [darkMode]);

  return (
    
      
    
  );
}

export default App;

Step 3: Styling With Tailwind’s Dark Classes

Use Tailwind’s dark: prefix to style elements differently in dark mode. In the example above, we changed background and text colors based on the mode.

Conclusion

With React and Tailwind CSS, adding a dark mode toggle is quick and highly customizable. This is a great way to enhance user experience and make your projects feel more polished.

If this post helped you, consider supporting me: buymeacoffee.com/hexshift