Semantic CSS with New UI

Crafted with care. Styled for impact.

New UI is a modern, semantic UI framework for building beautiful, accessible sites and apps. It provides the core design foundations you need—including colors, typography, spacing, sizing, layouts, and effects.

Designed to grow with you from your first launch to millions of users, it is thoughtfully made for makers, small teams, and anyone who values functional, scalable, and timeless design.

Core Principles

Built to scale — Core building blocks for modern interfaces that grow with your needs.
Themes that adapt — Customizable default themes with cold and warm variants to match your brand.
Framework agnostic — Works seamlessly with React, Vue, Svelte, or any framework you choose.
Accessibility first — WCAG-compliant with built-in keyboard navigation and focus management.

Getting Started

Install

npm i -D @new-ui/foundations

Note: This command installs all New UI foundation packages, which include reset, colors, effects, spacings, and typography.

CDN Quick Start

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@new-ui/foundations@latest/dist/index.css" />

Import

@use '@new-ui/foundations'; // Use `@import` for CSS

Set the Theme

Set the theme by adding the data-new-ui-theme attribute to your HTML wrapper element:

<html data-new-ui-theme="light"></html>

Available Themes	Value
Light (Default)	`light`
Light warm	`light--warm`
Light cold	`light--cold`
Dark (Default)	`dark`
Dark warm	`dark--warm`
Dark cold	`dark--cold`

Naming Convention

All classes associated with the New UI are prefixed with a global namespace followed by a hyphen: nu-

In addition to a global namespace, we added prefixes to each class to make it more apparent what job that class is doing using BEM syntax:

Prefix	Purpose
`nu-c-`	UI components
`nu-l-`	Layout-related styles
`nu-u-`	Utilities
`is-`	State-based classes
`has-`	State-based classes
`js-`	Targeting JavaScript functionality

Design Tokens

Colors

Background	Role
`--background`	Default app background
`--background-secondary`	Secondary app background
`--background-hover`	Background hover
`--background-selected`	UI element background
`--background-selected-hover`	UI element background hovered
`--background-high-contrast`	High contrast background

Border	Role
`--border-muted`	Muted strokes and separators
`--border`	Default strokes and separators
`--border-strong`	Strong strokes and separators
`--border-inked`	Inked strokes and separators
`--border-inverse`	Inverse strokes and separators
`--border-focus`	Focus outline

Button	Role
`--button`	Primary button background
`--button-hover`	Primary button hover
`--button-active`	Primary button active
`--button-disabled`	Disabled button background

Link	Role
`--link`	Primary link
`--link-hover`	Hover state for primary link
`--link-subtle`	Secondary link
`--link-visited`	Link visited

Support	Role
`--support-error`	Error
`--support-warning`	Warning
`--support-success`	Success
`--support-info`	Information

Content	Role
`--content-primary`	Primary body copy
`--content-secondary`	Secondary text color
`--content-secondary-alt`	Secondary text color alt
`--content-placeholder`	Placeholder text color
`--content-on-color`	Text on interactive color
`--content-error`	Error message
`--content-success`	Success message
`--content-inked`	Inked text

Effects

Shadows	Role
`--dialog-strong`	Modals, sidebar overlays, toasts
`--dialog`	Dropdown, tooltip, popover
`--content`	Content area, buttons, controls, cards, pills
`--canvas`	Background
`--keyboard-key`	Keyboard key component

Focus	Role
`--focus-default`	Default focus
`--focus-accent`	Accent focus
`--focus-inverse`	Focus inverse

Radius	Blur
`--radius-xs`	`--blur-xs`
`--radius-sm`	`--blur-sm`
`--radius-md`	`--blur-md`
`--radius-lg`	`--blur-lg`
`--radius-xl`	`--blur-xl`
`--radius-2xl`	`--blur-2xl`
`--radius-3xl`	`--blur-3xl`
`--radius-4xl`

Perspective	Value
`--perspective-dramatic`	6.25rem
`--perspective-near`	18.75rem
`--perspective-normal`	31.25rem
`--perspective-midrange`	50rem
`--perspective-distant`	75rem

Other	Value
`--aspect-video`	16/9
`--keyboard-key`	Keyboard key component shadow

Spacings

Token	Source	Size (px/rem)
`--spacing-zero`	`--spacing-00`	0 / 0
`--spacing-xs`	`--spacing-02`	4 / 0.25
`--spacing-s`	`--spacing-04`	8 / 0.5
`--spacing-m`	`--spacing-05`	12 / 0.75
`--spacing-l`	`--spacing-06`	16 / 1
`--spacing-xl`	`--spacing-08`	24 / 1.5
`--spacing-xxl`	`--spacing-09`	32 / 2
`--spacing-xxxl`	`--spacing-11`	48 / 3

Sizing

Token	Source	Size (px/rem)
`--size-xs`	`--spacing-06`	16 / 1
`--size-s`	`--spacing-08`	24 / 1.5
`--size-m`	`--spacing-09`	32 / 2
`--controls-size-default`	`--spacing-09`	32 / 2
`--controls-size-small`	`--spacing-08`	24 / 1.5

Typography

Heading (Desktop)	Heading (Mobile)	Role
`--desktop-heading-01`	`--mobile-heading-01`	Heading 01
`--desktop-heading-02`	`--mobile-heading-02`	Heading 02
`--desktop-heading-03`	`--mobile-heading-03`	Heading 03
`--desktop-heading-04`	`--mobile-heading-04`	Heading 04
`--desktop-heading-05`	`--mobile-heading-05`	Heading 05
`--desktop-heading-06`	`--mobile-heading-06`	Heading 06

Body (Desktop)	Body (Mobile)	Role
`--desktop-body-xl`	`--mobile-body-xl`	Body large
`--desktop-body`	`--mobile-body`	Body copy
`--desktop-body-sm`	`--mobile-body-sm`	Body small

Utility (Desktop)	Utility (Mobile)	Role
`--desktop-caption`	`--mobile-caption`	Caption
`--desktop-helper-text`	`--mobile-helper-text`	Helper text
`--desktop-code`	`--mobile-code`	Code

Note: To set line height, simply add the prefix --lh to the font size variables. For instance, --desktop-body-xl becomes --lh-desktop-body-xl.

Utility Classes

Margin & Padding

Pattern: nu-u-{property}-{size}

Property	Description
`m`	margin
`mt`	margin-top
`mb`	margin-bottom
`ms`	margin-left
`me`	margin-right
`mx`	margin-inline
`my`	margin-block
`p`	padding
`pt`	padding-top
`pb`	padding-bottom
`ps`	padding-left
`pe`	padding-right
`px`	padding-inline
`py`	padding-block

Sizes: zero, xs, s, m, l, xl, xxl, xxxl

<div class="nu-u-p-l">Padding large (16px)</div>
<div class="nu-u-mt-xl nu-u-mb-m">Margin top XL, bottom M</div>
<div class="nu-u-mx-auto">Centered horizontally</div>

Spacer Components

<div class="nu-c-spacer-xl"></div> <!-- 24px vertical space -->

Typography Classes

<h1 class="nu-c-h1">Heading 1</h1>
<h2 class="nu-c-h2">Heading 2</h2>
<p class="nu-c-fs-lead">Lead paragraph</p>
<p class="nu-c-fs-normal">Normal body text</p>
<p class="nu-c-fs-small">Small text</p>
<span class="nu-c-caption">CAPTION TEXT</span>
<span class="nu-c-helper-text">Helper text</span>
<code class="nu-c-code">Code text</code>

Font weights: nu-u-fw-bold, nu-u-fw-semi-bold, nu-u-fw-normal

Text transform: nu-u-text--uppercase, nu-u-text--lowercase, nu-u-text--capitalize

Text align: nu-u-text--left, nu-u-text--right, nu-u-text--center, nu-u-text--justify

Font families: nu-u-serif, nu-u-sans-serif, nu-u-code

Background Classes

<div class="nu-u-bg">Default background</div>
<div class="nu-u-bg-secondary">Secondary background</div>
<div class="nu-u-bg-selected">Selected state</div>
<div class="nu-u-bg-black">Black background</div>
<div class="nu-u-bg-white">White background</div>

Text Color Classes

<p class="nu-u-text--primary">Primary text</p>
<p class="nu-u-text--secondary">Secondary text</p>
<p class="nu-u-text--error">Error message</p>
<p class="nu-u-text--success">Success message</p>
<a class="nu-u-link">Link text</a>

Border Classes

<div class="nu-u-b">Default border color</div>
<div class="nu-u-b--muted">Muted border</div>
<div class="nu-u-b--strong">Strong border</div>
<div class="nu-u-b--focus">Focus border</div>

Shadow Classes

<div class="sh-dialog--strong">Modal shadow</div>
<div class="sh-dialog">Dropdown/tooltip shadow</div>
<div class="sh-content">Card/button shadow</div>
<div class="sh-canvas">Background shadow</div>
<div class="sh-default">Default focus ring</div>
<div class="sh-accent">Accent focus ring</div>
<div class="sh-inverse">Inverse focus ring</div>

Usage Examples

Themed Card Component

<html data-new-ui-theme="light">
<body class="nu-u-bg">
  <article class="nu-u-p-xl nu-u-bg-secondary sh-content" 
           style="border-radius: var(--radius-lg);">
    <h2 class="nu-c-h3 nu-u-text--primary nu-u-mb-m">Card Title</h2>
    <p class="nu-c-fs-normal nu-u-text--secondary">
      Card description using semantic color tokens.
    </p>
    <div class="nu-c-spacer-l"></div>
    <button style="background: var(--button); color: var(--content-on-color); 
                   padding: var(--spacing-s) var(--spacing-l); 
                   border-radius: var(--radius-md);">
      Action
    </button>
  </article>
</body>
</html>

Dark Theme Toggle

function toggleTheme() {
  const html = document.documentElement;
  const current = html.dataset.newUiTheme;
  html.dataset.newUiTheme = current === 'light' ? 'dark' : 'light';
}

Best Practices

Using New UI Tokens

Use semantic tokens — Prefer --content-primary over --grey10 for automatic theme support.
Leverage utility classes — Use nu-u-* classes for consistent spacing and typography.
Set themes at root — Apply data-new-ui-theme on <html> for full page theming.
Responsive typography — Heading and body classes automatically scale for mobile.
Accessible colors — OKLCH color system ensures perceptual consistency across themes.

Focus States

Interactive elements need visible focus: use --focus-default, --focus-accent, or --border-focus
Apply focus with box-shadow: var(--focus-default) or the .sh-default utility class
Never use outline: none without providing a focus replacement
Use :focus-visible over :focus (avoids focus ring on click)
Group focus with :focus-within for compound controls

Forms

Inputs need autocomplete and meaningful name attributes
Use correct type (email, tel, url, number) and inputmode
Labels must be clickable (for attribute or wrapping control)
Errors displayed inline next to fields; focus first error on submit
Placeholders should show example patterns and end with …

Animation

Honor prefers-reduced-motion (provide reduced variant or disable)
Animate transform and opacity only (compositor-friendly)
Never use transition: all—list properties explicitly
Use --default-transition-duration and --default-transition-timing-function

Typography

Use … not ... (ellipsis character)
Use curly quotes " " not straight "
Non-breaking spaces for units: 10 MB, ⌘ K
Loading states end with …: "Loading…", "Saving…"
Use font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums for number columns
Use text-wrap: balance on headings (prevents widows)

Images

Always provide explicit width and height (prevents CLS)
Below-fold images: loading="lazy"
Above-fold critical images: fetchpriority="high"

Dark Mode & Theming

Set theme using data-new-ui-theme attribute on <html>
Use color-scheme: dark on <html> for dark themes (fixes native scrollbar, inputs)
<meta name="theme-color"> should match --background token
Native <select>: use --background and --content-primary for consistent theming
Always use semantic tokens (--content-primary, --background) for automatic theme adaptation

Content Handling

Text containers must handle long content: truncate, line-clamp, or overflow-wrap: break-word
Flex children need min-width: 0 to allow text truncation
Always handle empty states—don't render broken UI

Accessibility

Form inputs must have associated labels
Icon buttons need aria-label
Never disable zoom: avoid user-scalable=no or maximum-scale=1
Use semantic HTML elements (<button>, <a>, <nav>, <main>, <article>)

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

outline: none without focus-visible replacement
transition: all (list properties explicitly)
<div> or <span> with click handlers (use <button>)
Images without dimensions
Form inputs without labels
Icon buttons without aria-label
Hardcoded date/number formats (use Intl.*)
Inline onClick navigation without <a> or <Link>

semantic-css

Semantic CSS with New UI

Core Principles

Getting Started

Install

CDN Quick Start

Import

Set the Theme

Naming Convention

Design Tokens

Colors

Effects

Spacings

Sizing

Typography

Utility Classes

Margin & Padding

Spacer Components

Typography Classes

Background Classes

Text Color Classes

Border Classes

Shadow Classes

Usage Examples

Themed Card Component

Dark Theme Toggle

Best Practices

Using New UI Tokens

Focus States

Forms

Animation

Typography

Images

Dark Mode & Theming

Content Handling

Accessibility

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Learn More