Tailwind is a well-known open-source CSS framework. This utility-first UI toolkit enables developers to make responsive and modern web interfaces.
The first-ever version of Tailwind was released in May 2019. Since then, it has published several variants.
Tailwind CSS 4.0 is the latest version, released in November 2024. This new variant is creating a lot of buzz among developers. Let us find out what advancements it brings.
Overview of Tailwind
Unlike conventional CSS frameworks, Tailwind has low-level utility classes, including flex, mt-4, and text-center.
Tailwind CSS comes with features like dark mode and responsive design. Besides this, it supports several plugins.
Let us explore the features of Tailwind 4.0
Oxide Engine
Tailwind 4.0 has undergone several structural changes. It has a new Oxide engine that uses the Rust library.
Tailwind’s new engine is 10 times faster and 35% smaller than the old one. The new engine of Tailwind 4.0 relies on lightning CSS, which is several times faster than JavaScript-based tools.
Tailwind CSS 4.0 has an optimized architecture. Therefore, it lets you manage complicated and large-scale CSS processing jobs.
Unified Toolchain
Tailwind CSS 4.0 comes with a single unified toolchain. The toolchain keeps all your CSS tools in one place. You do not need to manage separate configurations for PostCSS and other dependencies.
Tailwind 4.0 adds browser-specific prefixes to your CSS automatically. In addition to this, it allows you to flatten nested CSS without any plugins.
Improvement in the Color System and Typography
Tailwind 4.0 color palette depends on OKLCH instead of RGB. This color system supports better color modifications.
This new version removes the default border color. Therefore, developers can define border colors themselves.
Users can choose colors manually. They can even make a new color by mixing two or more colors.
Compared to RGB, this color palette has better consistency across different screens.
While it seems a minor change, it offers control over the design and styling. In this new variant, you can also notice improvement in typography. You get better tools and font choices to enhance the writing style.
Zero-Configuration Content Detection
Zero-configuration content detection is another primary feature in Tailwind 4. It automatically identifies the classes used in codebases.
Besides this, users do not need to perform manual configuration. It naturally reduces the overall setup time.
Modern Web Support
Tailwind 4.0 is modern web-ready. It works with native cascade layers and container queries. Additionally, it has more organized and responsive CSS.
This version is also compatible with different browsers. You also get defined custom properties for precise control.
Removal of Deprecated Properties
Tailwind CSS 4.0 removes many deprecated utilities scheduled for deletion. For example, text-opacity-* has been replaced by text-{color}/*. Instead of decoration-slice, the new value is box-decoration-slice.
Similarly, flex-grow-* has been replaced by grow-*.
The framework has become more straightforward after the removal of these properties.
Separation of PostCSS Plugin and CLI
Tailwind CSS 4.0 offers the PostCSS plugin and CLI tools separately. They are no longer included in the same package. Therefore, users can install them as needed.
Developers have the flexibility to set up projects in their preferred way. They can customize the workflow to meet their project requirements.
Field Sizing
The field sizing feature will be available soon. However, it will be a significant upgrade in Tailwind 4.
With field sizing, developers won’t need JS to make auto-resizing textareas. They will be able to do that simply by using CSS.
Rings Are 1px By Default
Rings are now preset to 1px. This minor change streamlines the process of adding subtle outlines and focus states. It makes the overall design cleaner and more professional.
Final Words
These are a few upgrades you get in Tailwind 4.0
Considering everything, Tailwind is a robust CSS framework. Its new features help developers simplify their workflow.
Updates like Oxide engine, zero-configuration content detection, and unified tool chain help developers build clean and more accessible web designs with speed.
Whether you are working on a small project or a complex application, Tailwind 4.0 has all the tools to enhance your development experience.
If you are looking for an advanced CSS framework, Tailwind 4.0 can be a promising choice.
