Tailwind CSS 4.0 enhances web development with new features, performance boost, and more

Tailwind has released version 4.0 of its CSS framework, focusing on performance improvements and modern web development features. A key highlight is the high-performance engine, which enhances build speed significantly, making full builds up to five times faster and incremental builds over 100 times quicker. This update is aimed at streamlining the development process and reducing the time developers spend waiting for builds.

The new version incorporates advanced CSS features such as cascade layers, registered custom properties, and color mixing capabilities. Tailwind 4.0 simplifies installation by reducing dependencies and eliminating configuration, requiring only a single line of code in the CSS file. Additionally, a first-party Vite plugin has been introduced for easier integration, along with automatic content detection and built-in import support, allowing for seamless bundling of multiple CSS files.

Tailwind 4.0 also offers a CSS-first configuration approach, enabling developers to customize the framework directly in CSS. This version introduces dynamic utility values, a modernized P3 color palette, and container queries for responsive design. New utilities include 3D transforms, expanded gradient options, and support for features like color schemes and complex shadows. The update also enhances styling flexibility with new variants and utilities, such as @starting-style for transitions and a not-* variant for styling exceptions.