Building Modern UIs with ShadCN

ShadCN UI has become the go-to choice for building modern, accessible user interfaces. Let's explore how to leverage its components effectively.

What is ShadCN?

ShadCN UI is a collection of reusable components built with Radix UI and Tailwind CSS. Unlike traditional component libraries, ShadCN copies components directly into your project, giving you full control.

Key Advantages

• **Fully Customizable** - Components live in your codebase
• **Accessible by Default** - Built on Radix UI primitives
• **Beautiful Design** - Carefully crafted with attention to detail
• **TypeScript Support** - Full type safety out of the box

Essential Components

Cards

Cards are perfect for displaying content:

import { Card, CardHeader, CardTitle, CardDescription, CardContent } from "@/components/ui/card";

<Card>
  <CardHeader>
    <CardTitle>Card Title</CardTitle>
    <CardDescription>Card description</CardDescription>
  </CardHeader>
  <CardContent>
    Content goes here
  </CardContent>
</Card>

Buttons

Buttons come with multiple variants:

<Button variant="default">Default</Button>
<Button variant="secondary">Secondary</Button>
<Button variant="outline">Outline</Button>
<Button variant="ghost">Ghost</Button>

Badges

Use badges for labels and status indicators:

<Badge variant="default">New</Badge>
<Badge variant="secondary">Beta</Badge>
<Badge variant="outline">Featured</Badge>

Design Principles

1. **Consistency** - Use consistent spacing and typography 2. **Accessibility** - Ensure keyboard navigation and screen reader support 3. **Dark Mode** - Implement proper theme switching 4. **Responsive** - Design for all screen sizes

Customization Tips

• Modify component variants in your theme configuration
• Override styles using Tailwind classes
• Create custom variants for your brand
• Extend components with additional features

ShadCN UI empowers you to build beautiful, accessible interfaces faster than ever before.