20 Tailwind CSS Kbd Keys
02 / 20

All 20 in 20 Tailwind CSS Kbd Keys

  1. 01Tailwind CSS Kbd Tag Styling for Inline Keyboard Keys
  2. 02Tailwind 3D Keycap Button with Press-Down Effect
  3. 03Tailwind Keyboard Shortcut Combo with Plus Separators
  4. 04Flat Minimalist Tailwind Kbd Key for Body Text
  5. 05Responsive Tailwind Kbd Sizing with Em Units
  6. 06Tailwind Mac Cmd vs Windows Ctrl Shortcut Toggle
  7. 07Tailwind Arrow Keys and Navigation Key Layout
  8. 08Auto-Detect OS Keyboard Shortcuts (Cmd or Ctrl) in Tailwind
  9. 09Tailwind Keyboard Layout with Function Keys and Space Bar
  10. 10Tailwind Icon Keycaps with Inline SVG
  11. 11Tailwind Search Input with Cmd+K Shortcut Hint
  12. 12Tailwind Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet Grid
  13. 13Tailwind Tooltip with Keyboard Shortcut Hint
  14. 14Tailwind Keyboard Shortcut Settings Table
  15. 15Live Key Press Visualizer with Tailwind CSS
  16. 16Neumorphic Keycap Design in Tailwind CSS
  17. 17Glassmorphism Keyboard Keys in Tailwind CSS
  18. 18Retro Typewriter Round Keys in Tailwind CSS
  19. 19Terminal-Style Monospace Kbd Keys in Tailwind
  20. 20Dark Mode Kbd Keys with Tailwind CSS Variables
Pure TailwindMIT licensed

Tailwind 3D Keycap Button with Press-Down Effect

A chunky 3D keycap whose wall is a solid 0_6px_0 shadow that collapses to 0_2px_0 as the face travels down translate-y-1 — 4px of travel, perfectly synchronised, so the key looks pressed rather than sunk. Each cap is a real <button> wrapping a <kbd>, so it responds to pointer and a held Space bar.

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The code

<section class="kbd-02 relative w-full min-h-svh scheme-light kbd02-dark:scheme-dark bg-kbd02-bg text-kbd02-ink font-kbd02-sans" aria-label="3D keycap press-down demo">
  <div class="grid min-h-svh place-items-center px-5 pt-20 pb-12">
    <div class="grid w-full max-w-[36rem] justify-items-center gap-7 text-center">
      <p class="text-sm text-kbd02-mut">Press and hold a cap — or Tab to one and hold <strong class="font-semibold text-kbd02-ink">Space</strong></p>
      <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-3 rounded-[22px] bg-kbd02-tray p-5 pb-6 shadow-[inset_0_2px_6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)]">
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-accwall from-kbd02-acctop to-kbd02-acc text-kbd02-accink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-acctop),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-accwall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-acctop),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-accwall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-base">Esc</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-lg">Q</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-lg">W</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-lg">E</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-lg">R</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-36 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] items-end justify-items-start pb-2.5 text-sm">Shift</kbd></button>
      </div>
      <p class="font-mono text-xs tracking-wide text-kbd02-mut">travel 4px · wall 6px → 2px · 90ms</p>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="absolute top-3.5 right-4 z-10">
    <input id="kbd-02-theme" type="checkbox" class="peer sr-only">
    <label for="kbd-02-theme" class="inline-flex min-h-11 cursor-pointer select-none items-center gap-2.5 rounded-full border border-current/55 px-4 font-sans text-[11px] font-bold uppercase leading-none tracking-[0.16em] text-kbd02-ink transition-colors hover:border-current peer-focus-visible:outline-3 peer-focus-visible:outline-offset-2 peer-focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc">
      <span aria-hidden="true" class="size-3 flex-none rounded-full bg-current transition-[background-color,box-shadow] duration-300 kbd02-dark:bg-transparent kbd02-dark:shadow-[inset_-4px_-2px_0_0_currentColor] motion-reduce:transition-none"></span>
      <span class="kbd02-dark:hidden">Light</span><span class="hidden kbd02-dark:inline">Dark</span><span class="sr-only"> theme</span>
    </label>
  </div>
</section>
@import "tailwindcss";
/* Theme state: follows the OS; the corner switch flips it for THIS demo only. */

@custom-variant kbd02-dark {
  @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
    &:where(.kbd-02:not(:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked)), .kbd-02:not(:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked)) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }

  @media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
    &:where(.kbd-02:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked), .kbd-02:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }
}
/* Every colour is light-dark(day, night): the root's scheme-light / scheme-dark utility picks the side. */

@theme {
  --color-kbd02-bg: light-dark(#ebe6dc, #121418);
  --color-kbd02-bg: light-dark(oklch(0.926 0.014 84.6), oklch(0.191 0.009 264.3));
  --color-kbd02-ink: light-dark(#24211c, #e8eaee);
  --color-kbd02-ink: light-dark(oklch(0.249 0.01 80.6), oklch(0.937 0.006 264.5));
  --color-kbd02-mut: light-dark(#5d564b, #9ba2ae);
  --color-kbd02-mut: light-dark(oklch(0.456 0.02 79.2), oklch(0.71 0.019 261.3));
  --color-kbd02-tray: light-dark(#dcd5c7, #0b0d10);
  --color-kbd02-tray: light-dark(oklch(0.875 0.02 84.6), oklch(0.158 0.007 258.4));
  --color-kbd02-cap: light-dark(#f6f2ea, #2a2e36);
  --color-kbd02-cap: light-dark(oklch(0.962 0.011 84.6), oklch(0.301 0.016 264.3));
  --color-kbd02-top: light-dark(#ffffff, #3a404b);
  --color-kbd02-top: light-dark(oklch(1 0 0), oklch(0.37 0.021 262.6));
  --color-kbd02-rim: light-dark(#d3ccbf, #474d59);
  --color-kbd02-rim: light-dark(oklch(0.847 0.019 83.1), oklch(0.419 0.021 264.3));
  --color-kbd02-wall: light-dark(#b9af9d, #05060a);
  --color-kbd02-wall: light-dark(oklch(0.757 0.028 82.4), oklch(0.123 0.011 271.4));
  --color-kbd02-drop: light-dark(#6b5f4c66, #00000099);
  --color-kbd02-drop: light-dark(oklch(0.492 0.033 79.2 / 0.4), oklch(0 0 0 / 0.6));
  --color-kbd02-capink: light-dark(#2b2720, #eef0f4);
  --color-kbd02-capink: light-dark(oklch(0.275 0.014 81.7), oklch(0.955 0.006 264.5));
  --color-kbd02-acc: light-dark(#d9541f, #f0703a);
  --color-kbd02-acc: light-dark(oklch(0.615 0.178 39.6), oklch(0.69 0.172 41.8));
  --color-kbd02-acctop: light-dark(#f2804e, #ff9563);
  --color-kbd02-acctop: light-dark(oklch(0.719 0.154 43.3), oklch(0.772 0.143 45.3));
  --color-kbd02-accwall: light-dark(#9b3510, #8a300c);
  --color-kbd02-accwall: light-dark(oklch(0.473 0.144 38.1), oklch(0.436 0.13 39.2));
  --color-kbd02-accink: light-dark(#ffffff, #ffffff);
  --color-kbd02-accink: light-dark(oklch(1 0 0), oklch(1 0 0));
  --font-kbd02-sans: 'Space Grotesk', system-ui, sans-serif;
}
/* Root rule: the full-bleed contract, stated in CSS as well as utilities so the stage is sized before the browser build compiles. */

.kbd-02 {
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100svh;
  position: relative;
}

Setup — do this once per project

Skip this if your project already runs Tailwind v4.

1Load Tailwind
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@tailwindcss/browser@4"></script>

Compiles in the browser — perfect for a CodePen or a quick test, not for production.

2Add the stylesheetRequiredthe @theme block is what makes the custom utilities exist
@import "tailwindcss";
/* Theme state: follows the OS; the corner switch flips it for THIS demo only. */

@custom-variant kbd02-dark {
  @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
    &:where(.kbd-02:not(:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked)), .kbd-02:not(:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked)) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }

  @media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
    &:where(.kbd-02:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked), .kbd-02:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }
}
/* Every colour is light-dark(day, night): the root's scheme-light / scheme-dark utility picks the side. */

@theme {
  --color-kbd02-bg: light-dark(#ebe6dc, #121418);
  --color-kbd02-bg: light-dark(oklch(0.926 0.014 84.6), oklch(0.191 0.009 264.3));
  --color-kbd02-ink: light-dark(#24211c, #e8eaee);
  --color-kbd02-ink: light-dark(oklch(0.249 0.01 80.6), oklch(0.937 0.006 264.5));
  --color-kbd02-mut: light-dark(#5d564b, #9ba2ae);
  --color-kbd02-mut: light-dark(oklch(0.456 0.02 79.2), oklch(0.71 0.019 261.3));
  --color-kbd02-tray: light-dark(#dcd5c7, #0b0d10);
  --color-kbd02-tray: light-dark(oklch(0.875 0.02 84.6), oklch(0.158 0.007 258.4));
  --color-kbd02-cap: light-dark(#f6f2ea, #2a2e36);
  --color-kbd02-cap: light-dark(oklch(0.962 0.011 84.6), oklch(0.301 0.016 264.3));
  --color-kbd02-top: light-dark(#ffffff, #3a404b);
  --color-kbd02-top: light-dark(oklch(1 0 0), oklch(0.37 0.021 262.6));
  --color-kbd02-rim: light-dark(#d3ccbf, #474d59);
  --color-kbd02-rim: light-dark(oklch(0.847 0.019 83.1), oklch(0.419 0.021 264.3));
  --color-kbd02-wall: light-dark(#b9af9d, #05060a);
  --color-kbd02-wall: light-dark(oklch(0.757 0.028 82.4), oklch(0.123 0.011 271.4));
  --color-kbd02-drop: light-dark(#6b5f4c66, #00000099);
  --color-kbd02-drop: light-dark(oklch(0.492 0.033 79.2 / 0.4), oklch(0 0 0 / 0.6));
  --color-kbd02-capink: light-dark(#2b2720, #eef0f4);
  --color-kbd02-capink: light-dark(oklch(0.275 0.014 81.7), oklch(0.955 0.006 264.5));
  --color-kbd02-acc: light-dark(#d9541f, #f0703a);
  --color-kbd02-acc: light-dark(oklch(0.615 0.178 39.6), oklch(0.69 0.172 41.8));
  --color-kbd02-acctop: light-dark(#f2804e, #ff9563);
  --color-kbd02-acctop: light-dark(oklch(0.719 0.154 43.3), oklch(0.772 0.143 45.3));
  --color-kbd02-accwall: light-dark(#9b3510, #8a300c);
  --color-kbd02-accwall: light-dark(oklch(0.473 0.144 38.1), oklch(0.436 0.13 39.2));
  --color-kbd02-accink: light-dark(#ffffff, #ffffff);
  --color-kbd02-accink: light-dark(oklch(1 0 0), oklch(1 0 0));
  --font-kbd02-sans: 'Space Grotesk', system-ui, sans-serif;
}
/* Root rule: the full-bleed contract, stated in CSS as well as utilities so the stage is sized before the browser build compiles. */

.kbd-02 {
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100svh;
  position: relative;
}
3Fonts used by this demooptional — skip if you have your own type stack
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Space+Grotesk:wght@400..700&display=swap">

What changed in the port

Which parts became utilities, which stayed CSS, and why.

  • .kbd-02__key:active became group-active: utilities on the cap inside a button, so the state rides on the element that can actually receive it.
  • Both shadow states are full arbitrary values — Tailwind cannot interpolate partial shadows, so the press is written out once each way.
  • UI upgrade: caps are now buttons, fixing the CSS original's promise that holding Enter on a tabindex kbd would press it (it never did).
  • UI upgrade: an accent Esc cap, a recessed tray, a convex gradient face and a bottom-left legend on Shift make the board read as real hardware.
Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or any coding assistant. The block below is pre-framed with everything the AI needs to integrate this demo into your project — markup, styles, scoping notes, and the source URL. Hit Copy and paste straight into your chat.
Here's a working CSS demo from CodeFronts. Use it as-is or adapt to your framework. All classes are scoped under a unique prefix so the code won't collide with your existing styles. MIT licensed.
Demo: Tailwind 3D Keycap Button with Press-Down Effect
Source: https://codefronts.com/snippets/tailwind-css-kbd-keys/tailwind-3d-keycap-button-press-down-effect/

A chunky 3D keycap whose wall is a solid 0_6px_0 shadow that collapses to 0_2px_0 as the face travels down translate-y-1 — 4px of travel, perfectly synchronised, so the key looks pressed rather than sunk. Each cap is a real <button> wrapping a <kbd>, so it responds to pointer and a held Space bar.
## HTML
```html
<section class="kbd-02 relative w-full min-h-svh scheme-light kbd02-dark:scheme-dark bg-kbd02-bg text-kbd02-ink font-kbd02-sans" aria-label="3D keycap press-down demo">
  <div class="grid min-h-svh place-items-center px-5 pt-20 pb-12">
    <div class="grid w-full max-w-[36rem] justify-items-center gap-7 text-center">
      <p class="text-sm text-kbd02-mut">Press and hold a cap — or Tab to one and hold <strong class="font-semibold text-kbd02-ink">Space</strong></p>
      <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-3 rounded-[22px] bg-kbd02-tray p-5 pb-6 shadow-[inset_0_2px_6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)]">
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-accwall from-kbd02-acctop to-kbd02-acc text-kbd02-accink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-acctop),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-accwall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-acctop),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-accwall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-base">Esc</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-lg">Q</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-lg">W</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-lg">E</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-16 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] place-items-center text-lg">R</kbd></button>
        <button type="button" class="group rounded-[14px] outline-none focus-visible:outline-3 focus-visible:outline-offset-4 focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc"><kbd class="grid h-16 min-w-36 rounded-[12px] border bg-linear-to-b px-4 font-kbd02-sans font-semibold transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-[90ms] ease-out group-active:translate-y-1 motion-reduce:transition-none border-kbd02-rim from-kbd02-top to-kbd02-cap text-kbd02-capink shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_6px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_12px_18px_-6px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] group-active:shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd02-top),0_2px_0_var(--color-kbd02-wall),0_4px_8px_-4px_var(--color-kbd02-drop)] items-end justify-items-start pb-2.5 text-sm">Shift</kbd></button>
      </div>
      <p class="font-mono text-xs tracking-wide text-kbd02-mut">travel 4px · wall 6px → 2px · 90ms</p>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="absolute top-3.5 right-4 z-10">
    <input id="kbd-02-theme" type="checkbox" class="peer sr-only">
    <label for="kbd-02-theme" class="inline-flex min-h-11 cursor-pointer select-none items-center gap-2.5 rounded-full border border-current/55 px-4 font-sans text-[11px] font-bold uppercase leading-none tracking-[0.16em] text-kbd02-ink transition-colors hover:border-current peer-focus-visible:outline-3 peer-focus-visible:outline-offset-2 peer-focus-visible:outline-kbd02-acc">
      <span aria-hidden="true" class="size-3 flex-none rounded-full bg-current transition-[background-color,box-shadow] duration-300 kbd02-dark:bg-transparent kbd02-dark:shadow-[inset_-4px_-2px_0_0_currentColor] motion-reduce:transition-none"></span>
      <span class="kbd02-dark:hidden">Light</span><span class="hidden kbd02-dark:inline">Dark</span><span class="sr-only"> theme</span>
    </label>
  </div>
</section>
```
## CSS
```css
@import "tailwindcss";
/* Theme state: follows the OS; the corner switch flips it for THIS demo only. */

@custom-variant kbd02-dark {
  @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
    &:where(.kbd-02:not(:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked)), .kbd-02:not(:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked)) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }

  @media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
    &:where(.kbd-02:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked), .kbd-02:has(#kbd-02-theme:checked) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }
}
/* Every colour is light-dark(day, night): the root's scheme-light / scheme-dark utility picks the side. */

@theme {
  --color-kbd02-bg: light-dark(#ebe6dc, #121418);
  --color-kbd02-bg: light-dark(oklch(0.926 0.014 84.6), oklch(0.191 0.009 264.3));
  --color-kbd02-ink: light-dark(#24211c, #e8eaee);
  --color-kbd02-ink: light-dark(oklch(0.249 0.01 80.6), oklch(0.937 0.006 264.5));
  --color-kbd02-mut: light-dark(#5d564b, #9ba2ae);
  --color-kbd02-mut: light-dark(oklch(0.456 0.02 79.2), oklch(0.71 0.019 261.3));
  --color-kbd02-tray: light-dark(#dcd5c7, #0b0d10);
  --color-kbd02-tray: light-dark(oklch(0.875 0.02 84.6), oklch(0.158 0.007 258.4));
  --color-kbd02-cap: light-dark(#f6f2ea, #2a2e36);
  --color-kbd02-cap: light-dark(oklch(0.962 0.011 84.6), oklch(0.301 0.016 264.3));
  --color-kbd02-top: light-dark(#ffffff, #3a404b);
  --color-kbd02-top: light-dark(oklch(1 0 0), oklch(0.37 0.021 262.6));
  --color-kbd02-rim: light-dark(#d3ccbf, #474d59);
  --color-kbd02-rim: light-dark(oklch(0.847 0.019 83.1), oklch(0.419 0.021 264.3));
  --color-kbd02-wall: light-dark(#b9af9d, #05060a);
  --color-kbd02-wall: light-dark(oklch(0.757 0.028 82.4), oklch(0.123 0.011 271.4));
  --color-kbd02-drop: light-dark(#6b5f4c66, #00000099);
  --color-kbd02-drop: light-dark(oklch(0.492 0.033 79.2 / 0.4), oklch(0 0 0 / 0.6));
  --color-kbd02-capink: light-dark(#2b2720, #eef0f4);
  --color-kbd02-capink: light-dark(oklch(0.275 0.014 81.7), oklch(0.955 0.006 264.5));
  --color-kbd02-acc: light-dark(#d9541f, #f0703a);
  --color-kbd02-acc: light-dark(oklch(0.615 0.178 39.6), oklch(0.69 0.172 41.8));
  --color-kbd02-acctop: light-dark(#f2804e, #ff9563);
  --color-kbd02-acctop: light-dark(oklch(0.719 0.154 43.3), oklch(0.772 0.143 45.3));
  --color-kbd02-accwall: light-dark(#9b3510, #8a300c);
  --color-kbd02-accwall: light-dark(oklch(0.473 0.144 38.1), oklch(0.436 0.13 39.2));
  --color-kbd02-accink: light-dark(#ffffff, #ffffff);
  --color-kbd02-accink: light-dark(oklch(1 0 0), oklch(1 0 0));
  --font-kbd02-sans: 'Space Grotesk', system-ui, sans-serif;
}
/* Root rule: the full-bleed contract, stated in CSS as well as utilities so the stage is sized before the browser build compiles. */

.kbd-02 {
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100svh;
  position: relative;
}
```

How this works

The wall is a shadow, not a border. A zero-blur shadow offset 6px down paints the cap's side. On press the face moves 4px and the shadow shrinks by the same 4px, so the bottom edge never moves:

shadow-[0_6px_0_var(--wall)]  →  group-active:translate-y-1
                                 group-active:shadow-[0_2px_0_var(--wall)]

Why a button wrapper. A focusable <kbd tabindex=0> never receives :active from the keyboard. A <button> does when Space is held, so the press is visible to keyboard users too.

Make it yours

  • Deeper travel: 0_8px_0 wall with group-active:translate-y-1.5 and a 0_2px_0 pressed wall.
  • Accent caps: swap the token set (the Esc cap uses kbd02-acc*).
  • Real-keyboard legends: items-end justify-items-start pb-2.5 moves a label to the bottom-left, as on the Shift cap.

Gotchas — read before shipping

  • Holding Enter fires click but never sets :active; only Space does — the hint says so.
  • Keep the shadow blur at 0 for the wall; blur reads as a floating card, not a key.
  • Transition translate, not transform — Tailwind v4's translate-y-* sets the individual translate property.

Browser support

ChromeSafariFirefoxEdge
123+17.5+128+123+

Tailwind v4's own sheet needs Chrome 111 / Safari 16.4 / Firefox 128 (cascade layers, @property, color-mix()); the light-dark() theme tokens raise the floor to Chrome 123 / Safari 17.5.

Techniques used in this demo

Utilitiesfirst-class utility or variant

box-shadowtw ↗transitionstw ↗prefers-reduced-motiontw ↗

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