Published on

How to prevent the focus ring from a Shadcn-UI/Tailwind CSS button element?

Authors
  • Name
    Ripal & Zalak
    Twitter

How to Prevent the Focus Ring from ShadCN-UI/Tailwind CSS Buttons

The focus ring is a visual indicator provided by browsers to highlight elements that gain focus. While this is crucial for accessibility, there may be cases where you want to remove or customize the focus ring for aesthetic reasons, especially when working with ShadCN UI and Tailwind CSS.

This article explains how to disable the focus ring on a button element in ShadCN UI using Tailwind CSS.

The Problem

You might notice an unwanted focus ring appearing around your button when it is clicked or navigated to using the keyboard. Here’s an example:

<Button variant="default" className="focus:ring-0 focus:ring-offset-0 focus-visible:ring-0">
  BUTTON
</Button>

In the code above, even though focus:ring-0 and focus-visible:ring-0 are used, the ring might still appear. This happens because some default styles may still be applied by ShadCN UI components or the browser.

The Solution

To completely prevent the focus ring, you can refine your Tailwind CSS classes. Here’s the correct implementation:

<Button variant="default" className="focus-visible:ring-0 focus-visible:ring-offset-0">
  BUTTON
</Button>

Why This Works

  • focus-visible:ring-0: Removes the ring when the button is focused using the keyboard.
  • focus-visible:ring-offset-0: Removes the offset that may cause spacing around the button.

Additional Notes

  1. Accessibility Consideration: Removing the focus ring may reduce usability for keyboard users. If you need to remove the ring for design purposes, consider providing an alternative visual indicator for focus.

  2. Inspect the Component: If the above solution doesn’t work, check the ShadCN UI button component source code (e.g., @/components/ui/button.tsx) for any conflicting styles or default configurations that override your Tailwind classes.

Inline Styles (Optional)

If you want to use inline styles as a last resort:

<Button variant="default" style={{ outline: 'none' }}>
  BUTTON
</Button>

This removes the outline but may not be as maintainable or consistent as using Tailwind CSS.

FAQs

Why does focus:ring-0 alone not work?

The focus:ring-0 class only applies when the element is focused. Some browsers and frameworks use focus-visible styles, so you need to account for both focus and focus-visible states.

How do I ensure accessibility while removing the focus ring?

If you must remove the focus ring, provide an alternative indication of focus, such as a subtle background or border color change.

Can I use custom themes in ShadCN UI to control focus styles globally?

Yes, you can override default styles in the ShadCN UI configuration or Tailwind CSS configuration to apply global focus behavior.

Conclusion

By using focus-visible:ring-0 and focus-visible:ring-offset-0, you can effectively remove the focus ring from ShadCN UI buttons without relying on inline styles. Remember to balance design choices with accessibility to ensure a great user experience for all users.