Frontend Style & Layout Patterns

VerifiedSafe

Applies consistent styling and layout patterns using Tailwind v4. Covers the Section Compound Pattern for structuring pages, spacing selection methods (flex gap, space-y/x, spacer divs), CLS-free responsive images with aspect-ratio containers, and migration from Tailwind v3 to v4. Useful when building page layouts, choosing spacing, implementing responsive images, or updating from v3 to v4.

Sby Skills Guide Bot
DevelopmentIntermediate
906/2/2026
Claude CodeCursorWindsurfCopilotCodex
#tailwind-v4#layout-patterns#spacing#responsive-images

Recommended for

Our review

Applies consistent Tailwind v4 styling and layout patterns for frontend development, including section structure, spacing selection, CLS-free responsive images, and v3-to-v4 migration.

Strengths

  • Promotes explicit layout structure at the usage site
  • Provides a decision flow for choosing spacing methods
  • Prevents CLS with aspect-ratio-based responsive images
  • Covers Tailwind v4 class changes for migration

Limitations

  • Requires familiarity with Tailwind v4 syntax
  • Does not cover advanced responsive breakpoints
  • Assumes use of Tailwind utility classes exclusively
When to use it

Use when building new page layouts or migrating existing Tailwind v3 code to v4.

When not to use it

Avoid when using a different CSS framework or when layout is handled by a UI library.

Security analysis

Safe
Quality score92/100

This skill provides frontend styling patterns and Tailwind v4 guidance. It does not instruct any actions that could compromise security, such as executing shell commands, accessing network resources, or manipulating files. The content is purely informational and educational.

No concerns found

Examples

Apply Section Compound Pattern
Create a page layout for an order list page using the Section Compound Pattern with Tailwind v4. Include a sticky header, main content area with filters and list, and a sticky footer with action buttons.
Choose spacing method
I have a flex container with three child components. How should I add 24px spacing between them using Tailwind v4? Should I use gap, space-y, or a spacer div?
Add responsive image with CLS prevention
Add a responsive product thumbnail image with an aspect ratio of 4:3. It should be centered, fill its container, and not cause layout shift (CLS). Use lazy loading if it's below the fold.

name: frontend-style-layout description: Apply consistent styling and layout patterns with Tailwind v4. Use when building page layouts, choosing spacing methods, implementing responsive images, or migrating Tailwind v3 classes to v4. Covers Section Compound Pattern, spacing selection, CLS-free responsive images, and v4 class changes.

Frontend Style & Layout Patterns

Tailwind v4 styling patterns for this project. Covers page structure, spacing, responsive images, and v3→v4 migration.

1. Section Compound Pattern

Express page layout structure explicitly using semantic HTML + Tailwind classes at the usage site.

// ✅ Layout structure visible at a glance
const OrderListPage = () => (
  <main className="min-h-screen flex flex-col">
    <header className="sticky top-0 z-10 bg-white border-b border-gray-200">
      <OrderListHeader />
    </header>

    <section className="flex-1 flex flex-col gap-4 px-4 py-6">
      <OrderFilterBar />
      <OrderList />
    </section>

    <footer className="sticky bottom-0 bg-white border-t border-gray-200 px-4 py-3">
      <OrderListFooterActions />
    </footer>
  </main>
)

What to Expose vs. Hide

| Expose at usage site | Hide in component | | --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | | Layout structure (flex, grid, position) | Reusable styles (button variants) | | Page-specific spacing and sizing | Internal implementation details | | Semantic HTML structure | Complexity outside current concern |

  • Reusable styles (buttons, cards) → abstract into components.
  • Page layout → write directly at the usage site in screens/ pages.

2. Spacing Selection Guide

Three Methods

flex gap — Default for Flexbox containers:

<div className="flex flex-col gap-4">
  <OrderCard />
  <OrderCard />
</div>

space-y / space-x — Sibling elements with consistent spacing:

<ul className="space-y-3">
  <li>
    <ReviewItem />
  </li>
  <li>
    <ReviewItem />
  </li>
</ul>

Explicit spacer div — Single specific gap (e.g., from design spec):

<div>
  <OrderHeader />
  <div className="h-8" /> {/* 32px explicit gap */}
  <OrderContent />
</div>

Decision Flow

Need spacing?
├── Inside Flexbox container?  → flex gap
├── Repeating sibling spacing? → space-y / space-x
├── Single explicit gap (from design spec)? → spacer div
└── Complex conditional spacing? → individual margin/padding

Notes

  • Use gap inside flex containers to avoid margin collapsing.

3. Responsive Images — CLS Prevention

Use aspect-ratio + relative container to maintain original ratio responsively.

// ✅ Basic responsive image
const Illustration = () => (
  <div className="flex justify-center">
    <div className="relative w-full aspect-[327/200]">
      <img
        src="/illustrations/order-complete.png"
        alt="Order complete"
        className="object-contain w-full h-full"
        loading="eager"
      />
    </div>
  </div>
)

// ✅ With max-width constraint
const Thumbnail = ({ src, alt }: { src: string; alt: string }) => (
  <div className="relative w-full max-w-sm aspect-square">
    <img src={src} alt={alt} className="object-cover w-full h-full rounded-lg" loading="lazy" />
  </div>
)

Key Properties

| Property | Purpose | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | relative | Positioning anchor for children | | aspect-[W/H] | Maintain ratio (prevents CLS) | | w-full | Fill parent width | | object-contain / object-cover | Image fit mode |

Loading Strategy

  • loading="eager": Above-the-fold images (LCP optimization)
  • loading="lazy": Below-the-fold images (initial load optimization)

4. Tailwind v4 Class Changes

This project uses Tailwind v4. Do NOT use v3 syntax.

Import Syntax

/* ❌ v3 (forbidden) */
@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;

/* ✅ v4 */
@import 'tailwindcss';

Class Migration Table

| v3 (forbidden) | v4 (use this) | | -------------- | ------------- | | shadow-sm | shadow-xs | | shadow | shadow-sm | | ring | ring-3 | | blur | blur-sm | | rounded | rounded-sm |

Reference: Tailwind v4 Upgrade Guide

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