What's the best way to handle dark mode with Tailwind?

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What's the best way to handle dark mode with Tailwind?

Asked on Oct 18, 2025

Answer

Tailwind CSS provides a built-in dark mode feature that allows you to easily switch between light and dark themes using utility classes. You can enable dark mode in your Tailwind configuration file and use the "dark:" prefix to apply styles conditionally.

Example Concept: Tailwind's dark mode is enabled by setting the "darkMode" option in the tailwind.config.js file to either "media" or "class". "media" uses the user's system preference, while "class" allows you to toggle dark mode manually by adding a "dark" class to an element. Use the "dark:" prefix to apply styles when dark mode is active.

Additional Comment:

To enable dark mode, update your tailwind.config.js with "darkMode: 'class'" or "darkMode: 'media'".
Use "dark:" prefix on utility classes to define styles for dark mode, e.g., "dark:bg-gray-800".
For manual toggling, add or remove the "dark" class on the root HTML element or a parent container.
Ensure your design maintains readability and accessibility in both light and dark modes.

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