shadcn-ui

What this skill does

# shadcn/ui Component Patterns

Expert guide for building accessible, customizable UI components with shadcn/ui, Radix UI, and Tailwind CSS.

## Table of Contents

- [When to Use](#when-to-use)
- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
- [Installation & Setup](#installation--setup)
- [Project Configuration](#project-configuration)
- [Core Components](#core-components)
  - [Button](#button-component)
  - [Input & Form Fields](#input--form-fields)
  - [Forms with Validation](#forms-with-validation)
  - [Card](#card-component)
  - [Dialog (Modal)](#dialog-modal-component)
  - [Select (Dropdown)](#select-dropdown-component)
  - [Sheet (Slide-over)](#sheet-slide-over-component)
  - [Menubar & Navigation](#menubar--navigation)
  - [Table](#table-component)
  - [Toast Notifications](#toast-notifications)
- [Advanced Patterns](#advanced-patterns)
- [Customization](#customization)
- [Next.js Integration](#nextjs-integration)
- [Best Practices](#best-practices)
- [Common Component Combinations](#common-component-combinations)

## When to Use

- Setting up a new project with shadcn/ui
- Installing or configuring individual components
- Building forms with React Hook Form and Zod validation
- Creating accessible UI components (buttons, dialogs, dropdowns, sheets)
- Customizing component styling with Tailwind CSS
- Implementing design systems with shadcn/ui
- Building Next.js applications with TypeScript
- Creating complex layouts and data displays

## Quick Start

For new projects, use the automated setup:

```bash
# Create Next.js project with shadcn/ui
npx create-next-app@latest my-app --typescript --tailwind --eslint --app
cd my-app
npx shadcn@latest init

# Install essential components
npx shadcn@latest add button input form card dialog select
```

For existing projects:

```bash
# Install dependencies
npm install tailwindcss-animate class-variance-authority clsx tailwind-merge lucide-react

# Initialize shadcn/ui
npx shadcn@latest init
```

## What is shadcn/ui?

shadcn/ui is **not** a traditional component library or npm package. Instead:

- It's a **collection of reusable components** that you can copy into your project
- Components are **yours to customize** - you own the code
- Built with **Radix UI** primitives for accessibility
- Styled with **Tailwind CSS** utilities
- Includes CLI tool for easy component installation

## Installation & Setup

### Initial Setup

```bash
# Initialize shadcn/ui in your project
npx shadcn@latest init
```

During setup, you'll configure:
- TypeScript or JavaScript
- Style (Default, New York, etc.)
- Base color theme
- CSS variables or Tailwind CSS classes
- Component installation path

### Installing Individual Components

```bash
# Install a single component
npx shadcn@latest add button

# Install multiple components
npx shadcn@latest add button input form

# Install all components
npx shadcn@latest add --all
```

### Manual Installation

If you prefer manual setup:

```bash
# Install dependencies for a specific component
npm install @radix-ui/react-slot

# Copy component code from ui.shadcn.com
# Place in src/components/ui/
```

## Project Configuration

### Required Dependencies

```json
{
  "dependencies": {
    "@radix-ui/react-accordion": "^1.1.2",
    "@radix-ui/react-alert-dialog": "^1.0.5",
    "@radix-ui/react-dialog": "^1.0.5",
    "@radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu": "^2.0.6",
    "@radix-ui/react-label": "^2.0.2",
    "@radix-ui/react-select": "^2.0.0",
    "@radix-ui/react-separator": "^1.0.3",
    "@radix-ui/react-slot": "^1.0.2",
    "@radix-ui/react-toast": "^1.1.5",
    "class-variance-authority": "^0.7.0",
    "clsx": "^2.0.0",
    "lucide-react": "^0.294.0",
    "tailwind-merge": "^2.0.0",
    "tailwindcss-animate": "^1.0.7"
  }
}
```

### TSConfig Configuration

```json
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "target": "es5",
    "lib": ["dom", "dom.iterable", "es6"],
    "allowJs": true,
    "skipLibCheck": true,
    "strict": true,
    "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
    "noEmit": true,
    "esModuleInterop": true,
    "module": "esnext",
    "moduleResolution": "node",
    "resolveJsonModule": true,
    "isolatedModules": true,
    "jsx": "preserve",
    "incremental": true,
    "plugins": [
      {
        "name": "next"
      }
    ],
    "baseUrl": ".",
    "paths": {
      "@/components/*": ["./src/components/*"],
      "@/lib/*": ["./src/lib/*"]
    }
  },
  "include": ["next-env.d.ts", "**/*.ts", "**/*.tsx", ".next/types/**/*.ts"],
  "exclude": ["node_modules"]
}
```

### Tailwind Configuration

```js
// tailwind.config.js
/** @type {import('tailwindcss').Config} */
module.exports = {
  darkMode: ["class"],
  content: [
    './pages/**/*.{ts,tsx}',
    './components/**/*.{ts,tsx}',
    './app/**/*.{ts,tsx}',
    './src/**/*.{ts,tsx}',
  ],
  prefix: "",
  theme: {
    container: {
      center: true,
      padding: "2rem",
      screens: {
        "2xl": "1400px",
      },
    },
    extend: {
      colors: {
        border: "hsl(var(--border))",
        input: "hsl(var(--input))",
        ring: "hsl(var(--ring))",
        background: "hsl(var(--background))",
        foreground: "hsl(var(--foreground))",
        primary: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--primary))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--primary-foreground))",
        },
        secondary: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--secondary))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--secondary-foreground))",
        },
        destructive: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--destructive))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--destructive-foreground))",
        },
        muted: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--muted))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--muted-foreground))",
        },
        accent: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--accent))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--accent-foreground))",
        },
        popover: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--popover))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--popover-foreground))",
        },
        card: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--card))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--card-foreground))",
        },
      },
      borderRadius: {
        lg: "var(--radius)",
        md: "calc(var(--radius) - 2px)",
        sm: "calc(var(--radius) - 4px)",
      },
      keyframes: {
        "accordion-down": {
          from: { height: "0" },
          to: { height: "var(--radix-accordion-content-height)" },
        },
        "accordion-up": {
          from: { height: "var(--radix-accordion-content-height)" },
          to: { height: "0" },
        },
      },
      animation: {
        "accordion-down": "accordion-down 0.2s ease-out",
        "accordion-up": "accordion-up 0.2s ease-out",
      },
    },
  },
  plugins: [require("tailwindcss-animate")],
}
```

### CSS Variables (globals.css)

```css
@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;

@layer base {
  :root {
    --background: 0 0% 100%;
    --foreground: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
    --card: 0 0% 100%;
    --card-foreground: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
    --popover: 0 0% 100%;
    --popover-foreground: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
    --primary: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
    --primary-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
    --secondary: 210 40% 96.1%;
    --secondary-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
    --muted: 210 40% 96.1%;
    --muted-foreground: 215.4 16.3% 46.9%;
    --accent: 210 40% 96.1%;
    --accent-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
    --destructive: 0 84.2% 60.2%;
    --destructive-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
    --border: 214.3 31.8% 91.4%;
    --input: 214.3 31.8% 91.4%;
    --ring: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
    --radius: 0.5rem;
  }

  .dark {
    --background: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
    --foreground: 210 40% 98%;
    --card: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
    --card-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
    --popover: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
    --popover-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
    --primary: 210 40% 98%;
    --primary-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
    --secondary: 217.2 32.6% 17.5%;
    --secondary-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
    --muted: 217.2 32.6% 17.5%;
    --muted-foreground: 215 20.2% 65.1%;
    --accent: 217.2 32.6% 17.5%;
    --accent-foreground: