20 Tailwind CSS Kbd Keys
01 / 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 CSS Kbd Tag Styling for Inline Keyboard Keys

The reference keycap the whole collection builds on: a real <kbd> styled entirely in utilities so it sits inside documentation prose without disturbing the line it lives on. A hairline border-kbd01-rim plus a one-pixel shadow-[0_1px_0_…] edge reads as depth, every dimension is in em so the cap tracks the text, and leading-none keeps the line box intact.

Live Demo
Plain CSSTailwind v4
Try it

Untitled UI Pro: 5,000+ React + Tailwind CSS v4 components · from $349 one-time

Untitled UI React · Affiliate link

Get Untitled UI Pro

The code

<section class="kbd-01 relative w-full min-h-svh scheme-light kbd01-dark:scheme-dark bg-kbd01-bg bg-[radial-gradient(110%_80%_at_50%_0%,var(--color-kbd01-glow),transparent_70%)] text-kbd01-ink" aria-label="Inline kbd tag styling demo">
  <div class="grid min-h-svh place-items-center px-5 pt-20 pb-12">
    <article class="w-full min-w-0 max-w-[34rem]">
      <p class="mb-2.5 font-kbd01-key text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase leading-none tracking-[0.24em] text-kbd01-acc">Editor · Keyboard</p>
      <h2 class="mb-5 font-kbd01-serif text-[clamp(28px,5.2vw,38px)] leading-[1.1] tracking-[-0.015em] text-balance">Saving, undoing, escaping</h2>
      <p class="mb-4 font-kbd01-serif text-[clamp(16px,3.4vw,18px)] leading-[1.75] text-pretty">Your work is written to disk the moment you press <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">Ctrl</kbd> <span class="px-[0.05em] font-kbd01-key text-[0.78em] text-kbd01-mut">+</span> <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">S</kbd>, and there is no separate confirm step. If an edit turns out wrong, <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">Ctrl</kbd> <span class="px-[0.05em] font-kbd01-key text-[0.78em] text-kbd01-mut">+</span> <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">Z</kbd> walks back through the history one change at a time; <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">Esc</kbd> closes whichever panel is in the way first.</p>
      <p class="mb-4 font-kbd01-serif text-[clamp(16px,3.4vw,18px)] leading-[1.75] text-pretty">Every key above is a real <code class="rounded-[3px] bg-kbd01-code px-[0.35em] py-[0.2em] font-kbd01-mono text-[0.84em]">&lt;kbd&gt;</code> element sitting in ordinary prose. The lines stay evenly spaced because the cap carries <code class="rounded-[3px] bg-kbd01-code px-[0.35em] py-[0.2em] font-kbd01-mono text-[0.84em]">leading-none</code>, so it never inflates the line box it lives in.</p>
      <div class="mt-8 grid items-center gap-6 border-t border-kbd01-rule pt-6 sm:grid-cols-[auto_minmax(0,1fr)]">
        <span aria-hidden="true" class="grid size-24 place-items-center rounded-2xl bg-kbd01-well text-[46px]"><kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">S</kbd></span>
        <dl class="grid gap-2.5">
        <div class="grid grid-cols-1 items-baseline gap-0.5 min-[380px]:grid-cols-[5.5rem_minmax(0,1fr)] min-[380px]:gap-3"><dt class="font-kbd01-key text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase leading-snug tracking-[0.16em] text-kbd01-mut">Border</dt><dd class="min-w-0 font-kbd01-serif text-[15px] leading-normal">One hairline, one tone darker than the cap face</dd></div>
        <div class="grid grid-cols-1 items-baseline gap-0.5 min-[380px]:grid-cols-[5.5rem_minmax(0,1fr)] min-[380px]:gap-3"><dt class="font-kbd01-key text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase leading-snug tracking-[0.16em] text-kbd01-mut">Edge</dt><dd class="min-w-0 font-kbd01-serif text-[15px] leading-normal">A single 1px bottom shadow, no blur</dd></div>
        <div class="grid grid-cols-1 items-baseline gap-0.5 min-[380px]:grid-cols-[5.5rem_minmax(0,1fr)] min-[380px]:gap-3"><dt class="font-kbd01-key text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase leading-snug tracking-[0.16em] text-kbd01-mut">Label</dt><dd class="min-w-0 font-kbd01-serif text-[15px] leading-normal">0.82em of the surrounding text, never below 11px</dd></div>
        </dl>
      </div>
    </article>
  </div>
  <div class="absolute top-3.5 right-4 z-10">
    <input id="kbd-01-theme" type="checkbox" class="peer sr-only">
    <label for="kbd-01-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-kbd01-ink transition-colors hover:border-current peer-focus-visible:outline-3 peer-focus-visible:outline-offset-2 peer-focus-visible:outline-kbd01-acc">
      <span aria-hidden="true" class="size-3 flex-none rounded-full bg-current transition-[background-color,box-shadow] duration-300 kbd01-dark:bg-transparent kbd01-dark:shadow-[inset_-4px_-2px_0_0_currentColor] motion-reduce:transition-none"></span>
      <span class="kbd01-dark:hidden">Light</span><span class="hidden kbd01-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 kbd01-dark {
  @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
    &:where(.kbd-01:not(:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked)), .kbd-01:not(:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked)) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }

  @media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
    &:where(.kbd-01:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked), .kbd-01:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }
}
/* Every colour is light-dark(day, night): the root's scheme-light / scheme-dark utility picks the side. */

@theme {
  --color-kbd01-bg: light-dark(#faf7f1, #17150f);
  --color-kbd01-bg: light-dark(oklch(0.977 0.009 84.6), oklch(0.196 0.012 91.8));
  --color-kbd01-glow: light-dark(#fffdf9, #211d15);
  --color-kbd01-glow: light-dark(oklch(0.994 0.006 84.6), oklch(0.233 0.016 84.5));
  --color-kbd01-ink: light-dark(#221e18, #f2ede1);
  --color-kbd01-ink: light-dark(oklch(0.237 0.013 78), oklch(0.947 0.017 88));
  --color-kbd01-mut: light-dark(#665d50, #a99f8e);
  --color-kbd01-mut: light-dark(oklch(0.483 0.023 77.1), oklch(0.706 0.027 81.1));
  --color-kbd01-rule: light-dark(#e2dbcd, #322d23);
  --color-kbd01-rule: light-dark(oklch(0.893 0.02 84.6), oklch(0.299 0.019 84.5));
  --color-kbd01-well: light-dark(#f1ece2, #1f1b14);
  --color-kbd01-well: light-dark(oklch(0.944 0.014 84.6), oklch(0.224 0.014 81.6));
  --color-kbd01-cap: light-dark(#ffffff, #2a251c);
  --color-kbd01-cap: light-dark(oklch(1 0 0), oklch(0.267 0.018 82.2));
  --color-kbd01-rim: light-dark(#cfc7b6, #4a4232);
  --color-kbd01-rim: light-dark(oklch(0.832 0.025 85.8), oklch(0.382 0.028 84.4));
  --color-kbd01-edge: light-dark(#bdb3a0, #0b0906);
  --color-kbd01-edge: light-dark(oklch(0.77 0.029 83.5), oklch(0.141 0.008 81.8));
  --color-kbd01-capink: light-dark(#332d24, #f6f1e5);
  --color-kbd01-capink: light-dark(oklch(0.301 0.018 77.9), oklch(0.959 0.017 88));
  --color-kbd01-code: light-dark(#eee8dc, #26221a);
  --color-kbd01-code: light-dark(oklch(0.932 0.017 84.6), oklch(0.254 0.016 84.5));
  --color-kbd01-acc: light-dark(#a14f27, #e39a6b);
  --color-kbd01-acc: light-dark(oklch(0.522 0.121 44.7), oklch(0.748 0.108 53.1));
  --font-kbd01-serif: 'Newsreader', Georgia, serif;
  --font-kbd01-key: 'Geist', ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
  --font-kbd01-mono: 'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace;
}
/* Root rule: the full-bleed contract, stated in CSS as well as utilities so the stage is sized before the browser build compiles. */

.kbd-01 {
  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 kbd01-dark {
  @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
    &:where(.kbd-01:not(:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked)), .kbd-01:not(:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked)) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }

  @media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
    &:where(.kbd-01:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked), .kbd-01:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }
}
/* Every colour is light-dark(day, night): the root's scheme-light / scheme-dark utility picks the side. */

@theme {
  --color-kbd01-bg: light-dark(#faf7f1, #17150f);
  --color-kbd01-bg: light-dark(oklch(0.977 0.009 84.6), oklch(0.196 0.012 91.8));
  --color-kbd01-glow: light-dark(#fffdf9, #211d15);
  --color-kbd01-glow: light-dark(oklch(0.994 0.006 84.6), oklch(0.233 0.016 84.5));
  --color-kbd01-ink: light-dark(#221e18, #f2ede1);
  --color-kbd01-ink: light-dark(oklch(0.237 0.013 78), oklch(0.947 0.017 88));
  --color-kbd01-mut: light-dark(#665d50, #a99f8e);
  --color-kbd01-mut: light-dark(oklch(0.483 0.023 77.1), oklch(0.706 0.027 81.1));
  --color-kbd01-rule: light-dark(#e2dbcd, #322d23);
  --color-kbd01-rule: light-dark(oklch(0.893 0.02 84.6), oklch(0.299 0.019 84.5));
  --color-kbd01-well: light-dark(#f1ece2, #1f1b14);
  --color-kbd01-well: light-dark(oklch(0.944 0.014 84.6), oklch(0.224 0.014 81.6));
  --color-kbd01-cap: light-dark(#ffffff, #2a251c);
  --color-kbd01-cap: light-dark(oklch(1 0 0), oklch(0.267 0.018 82.2));
  --color-kbd01-rim: light-dark(#cfc7b6, #4a4232);
  --color-kbd01-rim: light-dark(oklch(0.832 0.025 85.8), oklch(0.382 0.028 84.4));
  --color-kbd01-edge: light-dark(#bdb3a0, #0b0906);
  --color-kbd01-edge: light-dark(oklch(0.77 0.029 83.5), oklch(0.141 0.008 81.8));
  --color-kbd01-capink: light-dark(#332d24, #f6f1e5);
  --color-kbd01-capink: light-dark(oklch(0.301 0.018 77.9), oklch(0.959 0.017 88));
  --color-kbd01-code: light-dark(#eee8dc, #26221a);
  --color-kbd01-code: light-dark(oklch(0.932 0.017 84.6), oklch(0.254 0.016 84.5));
  --color-kbd01-acc: light-dark(#a14f27, #e39a6b);
  --color-kbd01-acc: light-dark(oklch(0.522 0.121 44.7), oklch(0.748 0.108 53.1));
  --font-kbd01-serif: 'Newsreader', Georgia, serif;
  --font-kbd01-key: 'Geist', ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
  --font-kbd01-mono: 'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace;
}
/* Root rule: the full-bleed contract, stated in CSS as well as utilities so the stage is sized before the browser build compiles. */

.kbd-01 {
  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=Newsreader:ital,opsz,wght@0,6..72,400..700;1,6..72,400..700&family=Geist:wght@400..700&family=JetBrains+Mono:wght@400;500&display=swap">

What changed in the port

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

  • Every .kbd-01__* rule became utilities on the element it styles; only @theme tokens and the kbd01-dark custom variant remain in CSS.
  • The four-state theme matrix (OS light/dark × switch off/on) collapsed into one @custom-variant and light-dark() tokens — no duplicated dark palette blocks.
  • UI upgrade: a magnified specimen cap now sits beside the anatomy list, built from the same class list at 46px — proof that the em geometry scales.
  • UI upgrade: label size is clamped with max(0.82em,11px), muted copy raised to 5.8:1, and the theme dot turns into a crescent in dark mode.
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 CSS Kbd Tag Styling for Inline Keyboard Keys
Source: https://codefronts.com/snippets/tailwind-css-kbd-keys/tailwind-css-kbd-tag-styling-inline-keyboard-keys/

The reference keycap the whole collection builds on: a real <kbd> styled entirely in utilities so it sits inside documentation prose without disturbing the line it lives on. A hairline border-kbd01-rim plus a one-pixel shadow-[0_1px_0_…] edge reads as depth, every dimension is in em so the cap tracks the text, and leading-none keeps the line box intact.
## HTML
```html
<section class="kbd-01 relative w-full min-h-svh scheme-light kbd01-dark:scheme-dark bg-kbd01-bg bg-[radial-gradient(110%_80%_at_50%_0%,var(--color-kbd01-glow),transparent_70%)] text-kbd01-ink" aria-label="Inline kbd tag styling demo">
  <div class="grid min-h-svh place-items-center px-5 pt-20 pb-12">
    <article class="w-full min-w-0 max-w-[34rem]">
      <p class="mb-2.5 font-kbd01-key text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase leading-none tracking-[0.24em] text-kbd01-acc">Editor · Keyboard</p>
      <h2 class="mb-5 font-kbd01-serif text-[clamp(28px,5.2vw,38px)] leading-[1.1] tracking-[-0.015em] text-balance">Saving, undoing, escaping</h2>
      <p class="mb-4 font-kbd01-serif text-[clamp(16px,3.4vw,18px)] leading-[1.75] text-pretty">Your work is written to disk the moment you press <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">Ctrl</kbd> <span class="px-[0.05em] font-kbd01-key text-[0.78em] text-kbd01-mut">+</span> <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">S</kbd>, and there is no separate confirm step. If an edit turns out wrong, <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">Ctrl</kbd> <span class="px-[0.05em] font-kbd01-key text-[0.78em] text-kbd01-mut">+</span> <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">Z</kbd> walks back through the history one change at a time; <kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">Esc</kbd> closes whichever panel is in the way first.</p>
      <p class="mb-4 font-kbd01-serif text-[clamp(16px,3.4vw,18px)] leading-[1.75] text-pretty">Every key above is a real <code class="rounded-[3px] bg-kbd01-code px-[0.35em] py-[0.2em] font-kbd01-mono text-[0.84em]">&lt;kbd&gt;</code> element sitting in ordinary prose. The lines stay evenly spaced because the cap carries <code class="rounded-[3px] bg-kbd01-code px-[0.35em] py-[0.2em] font-kbd01-mono text-[0.84em]">leading-none</code>, so it never inflates the line box it lives in.</p>
      <div class="mt-8 grid items-center gap-6 border-t border-kbd01-rule pt-6 sm:grid-cols-[auto_minmax(0,1fr)]">
        <span aria-hidden="true" class="grid size-24 place-items-center rounded-2xl bg-kbd01-well text-[46px]"><kbd class="inline-block min-w-[1.1em] rounded-[0.32em] border border-kbd01-rim bg-kbd01-cap px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em] text-center align-[0.06em] font-kbd01-key text-[max(0.82em,11px)] font-semibold leading-none whitespace-nowrap text-kbd01-capink shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">S</kbd></span>
        <dl class="grid gap-2.5">
        <div class="grid grid-cols-1 items-baseline gap-0.5 min-[380px]:grid-cols-[5.5rem_minmax(0,1fr)] min-[380px]:gap-3"><dt class="font-kbd01-key text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase leading-snug tracking-[0.16em] text-kbd01-mut">Border</dt><dd class="min-w-0 font-kbd01-serif text-[15px] leading-normal">One hairline, one tone darker than the cap face</dd></div>
        <div class="grid grid-cols-1 items-baseline gap-0.5 min-[380px]:grid-cols-[5.5rem_minmax(0,1fr)] min-[380px]:gap-3"><dt class="font-kbd01-key text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase leading-snug tracking-[0.16em] text-kbd01-mut">Edge</dt><dd class="min-w-0 font-kbd01-serif text-[15px] leading-normal">A single 1px bottom shadow, no blur</dd></div>
        <div class="grid grid-cols-1 items-baseline gap-0.5 min-[380px]:grid-cols-[5.5rem_minmax(0,1fr)] min-[380px]:gap-3"><dt class="font-kbd01-key text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase leading-snug tracking-[0.16em] text-kbd01-mut">Label</dt><dd class="min-w-0 font-kbd01-serif text-[15px] leading-normal">0.82em of the surrounding text, never below 11px</dd></div>
        </dl>
      </div>
    </article>
  </div>
  <div class="absolute top-3.5 right-4 z-10">
    <input id="kbd-01-theme" type="checkbox" class="peer sr-only">
    <label for="kbd-01-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-kbd01-ink transition-colors hover:border-current peer-focus-visible:outline-3 peer-focus-visible:outline-offset-2 peer-focus-visible:outline-kbd01-acc">
      <span aria-hidden="true" class="size-3 flex-none rounded-full bg-current transition-[background-color,box-shadow] duration-300 kbd01-dark:bg-transparent kbd01-dark:shadow-[inset_-4px_-2px_0_0_currentColor] motion-reduce:transition-none"></span>
      <span class="kbd01-dark:hidden">Light</span><span class="hidden kbd01-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 kbd01-dark {
  @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
    &:where(.kbd-01:not(:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked)), .kbd-01:not(:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked)) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }

  @media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
    &:where(.kbd-01:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked), .kbd-01:has(#kbd-01-theme:checked) *) {
      @slot;
    }
  }
}
/* Every colour is light-dark(day, night): the root's scheme-light / scheme-dark utility picks the side. */

@theme {
  --color-kbd01-bg: light-dark(#faf7f1, #17150f);
  --color-kbd01-bg: light-dark(oklch(0.977 0.009 84.6), oklch(0.196 0.012 91.8));
  --color-kbd01-glow: light-dark(#fffdf9, #211d15);
  --color-kbd01-glow: light-dark(oklch(0.994 0.006 84.6), oklch(0.233 0.016 84.5));
  --color-kbd01-ink: light-dark(#221e18, #f2ede1);
  --color-kbd01-ink: light-dark(oklch(0.237 0.013 78), oklch(0.947 0.017 88));
  --color-kbd01-mut: light-dark(#665d50, #a99f8e);
  --color-kbd01-mut: light-dark(oklch(0.483 0.023 77.1), oklch(0.706 0.027 81.1));
  --color-kbd01-rule: light-dark(#e2dbcd, #322d23);
  --color-kbd01-rule: light-dark(oklch(0.893 0.02 84.6), oklch(0.299 0.019 84.5));
  --color-kbd01-well: light-dark(#f1ece2, #1f1b14);
  --color-kbd01-well: light-dark(oklch(0.944 0.014 84.6), oklch(0.224 0.014 81.6));
  --color-kbd01-cap: light-dark(#ffffff, #2a251c);
  --color-kbd01-cap: light-dark(oklch(1 0 0), oklch(0.267 0.018 82.2));
  --color-kbd01-rim: light-dark(#cfc7b6, #4a4232);
  --color-kbd01-rim: light-dark(oklch(0.832 0.025 85.8), oklch(0.382 0.028 84.4));
  --color-kbd01-edge: light-dark(#bdb3a0, #0b0906);
  --color-kbd01-edge: light-dark(oklch(0.77 0.029 83.5), oklch(0.141 0.008 81.8));
  --color-kbd01-capink: light-dark(#332d24, #f6f1e5);
  --color-kbd01-capink: light-dark(oklch(0.301 0.018 77.9), oklch(0.959 0.017 88));
  --color-kbd01-code: light-dark(#eee8dc, #26221a);
  --color-kbd01-code: light-dark(oklch(0.932 0.017 84.6), oklch(0.254 0.016 84.5));
  --color-kbd01-acc: light-dark(#a14f27, #e39a6b);
  --color-kbd01-acc: light-dark(oklch(0.522 0.121 44.7), oklch(0.748 0.108 53.1));
  --font-kbd01-serif: 'Newsreader', Georgia, serif;
  --font-kbd01-key: 'Geist', ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
  --font-kbd01-mono: 'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace;
}
/* Root rule: the full-bleed contract, stated in CSS as well as utilities so the stage is sized before the browser build compiles. */

.kbd-01 {
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100svh;
  position: relative;
}
```

How this works

A keycap is a typographic problem first. The cap lives in a sentence, so every measure is relative to that sentence:

<kbd class="inline-block rounded-[0.32em] border px-[0.55em] py-[0.28em]
  text-[max(0.82em,11px)] leading-none align-[0.06em]
  shadow-[0_1px_0_var(--color-kbd01-edge)]">Ctrl</kbd>

Why leading-none matters. Without it the cap's padding adds to the line box and every line with a key sits taller than its neighbours. With it the cap overhangs the line slightly — exactly what a reader expects.

Theme without JavaScript. Each colour token is light-dark(day, night); the root carries scheme-light kbd01-dark:scheme-dark, and the kbd01-dark variant is true when the OS is dark and the switch is off, or the OS is light and the switch is on.

Make it yours

  • Bigger caps in callouts: wrap the paragraph in text-lg — every em-based utility follows.
  • Square caps for single letters: add min-w-[1.6em].
  • Re-theme: edit the two values inside any light-dark() token in @theme.

Gotchas — read before shipping

  • Underscores in arbitrary values become spaces — shadow-[0_1px_0_…] is 0 1px 0 ….
  • Do not put + inside the <kbd>; keep it a sibling so screen readers announce “Ctrl plus S”.
  • text-[max(…)] needs no spaces inside the brackets.

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 ↗

Arbitraryneeds bracket syntax

light-dark()tw ↗

Search CodeFronts

Loading…

↑↓ navigate↵ selectesc closeOpen full search page →