Base UI

Base UI Overview

Base UI lets you work with UI libraries in a way that stays clear, repeatable, and easy to scale. Instead of ad-hoc steps, you follow a pattern that other developers recognise immediately.

The key is to keep base ui focused and predictable. Start from the minimal example here, then add only the complexity your situation actually needs.

import * as Dialog from '@radix-ui/react-dialog';

function Modal() {
  return (
    <Dialog.Root>
      <Dialog.Trigger>Open</Dialog.Trigger>
      <Dialog.Portal>
        <Dialog.Overlay />
        <Dialog.Content>Hello</Dialog.Content>
      </Dialog.Portal>
    </Dialog.Root>
  );
}

Headless libraries provide accessible behaviour and leave all styling to you.

Base UI Example

// install, import, and use a component
// npm install <library>
import { Button } from '<library>';

<Button variant="primary">Click me</Button>

• Start from a minimal Base UI example and grow it only as needed.
• Keep things explicit so Base UI behaves the same for everyone on the team.
• Name things clearly so teammates understand your Base UI at a glance.
• Verify Base UI works as expected before relying on it in important work.

Popular UI Libraries Cheatsheet

Quick reference for popular UI libraries related to base ui.

How Base UI Works

Base UI fits into the wider ecosystem of UI libraries, which trade a little flexibility for speed, consistency, and built-in accessibility. Understanding the model helps you choose and use it well.

Headless libraries provide accessible behaviour and leave all styling to you.

• Component kits give styled, ready-to-use building blocks.
• Headless libraries provide behaviour and leave styling to you.
• Utility-first tools compose styles directly in markup.
• Theming layers keep branding consistent across components.

Practical Guidance for Base UI

When adopting base ui, weigh bundle size, accessibility, framework fit, and how easy it is to customise. The best choice is the one your team can maintain consistently.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping edge cases and error handling when using base ui.
• Not verifying the result of base ui before moving on.
• Over-complicating base ui before you actually need the extra flexibility.
• Ignoring documentation, which makes base ui hard for the next person to follow.

Key Takeaways

• Base UI is a core part of working effectively with UI libraries.
• Start small and keep base ui focused on a single goal.
• Apply consistent patterns so base ui scales across your project.
• Practise and document base ui to keep your workflow maintainable.