Q: What is a shadcn input?

A shadcn input is the styled ` ` element you reach for in every form — text, email, password, number, search, date, file, color. It ships with consistent border, focus ring, disabled treatment, and dark-mode tokens, so you don't reinvent the styling per project. Built on the native ` ` element (no JS overhead) styled by shadcn/ui + Tailwind. Each example in this gallery is a single self-contained TSX file demonstrating a specific input type or composition.

Question 1

What is a shadcn input?

Accepted Answer

A shadcn input is the styled `` element you reach for in every form — text, email, password, number, search, date, file, color. It ships with consistent border, focus ring, disabled treatment, and dark-mode tokens, so you don't reinvent the styling per project. Built on the native `` element (no JS overhead) styled by shadcn/ui + Tailwind. Each example in this gallery is a single self-contained TSX file demonstrating a specific input type or composition.

Question 2

Are these input examples free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, every input example on shadcn.io is free for personal and commercial use — no attribution requirement, no runtime dependency, no gating.

Question 3

How is the shadcn Input different from a plain <input>?

Accepted Answer

Plain `<input>` is unstyled (browser default — fine on desktop, ugly on mobile, inconsistent everywhere). shadcn Input adds a vetted border / focus ring / disabled / placeholder color set that adapts to your theme (light / dark via CSS variables). Padding, height, and font sizes match the rest of the shadcn primitives so inputs sit cleanly next to Buttons, Selects, Checkboxes. You still get the native input behavior (autofill, browser keyboard, accessibility); you skip the styling tax.

Question 4

When should I use Input versus InputGroup or Combobox?

Accepted Answer

Plain Input for single-value text fields. InputGroup when you need an icon prefix / suffix (currency symbol, search icon) or an inline button (clear button, submit on Enter). Combobox when the value should come from a constrained list of options that users search through. Don't reach for a Combobox for free-text input — the search-and-select metaphor is wrong for typing arbitrary text.

Question 5

How do I build a password input with show/hide toggle?

Accepted Answer

See the special variant. Track `isVisible` in useState. Render an Input with `type={isVisible ? 'text' : 'password'}`. Position an absolute Eye / EyeOff icon inside the input on the right edge that toggles the state. Pad the input's right edge (`pr-10`) so the typed text doesn't run under the icon. Common pattern; users expect the toggle on any password field beyond a login screen.

Question 6

Which input type should I use for email, phone, search?

Accepted Answer

Use the native types — they trigger the right mobile keyboard layout and built-in validation. `type="email"` shows the @ key on mobile keyboards and validates email format on submit. `type="tel"` shows the numeric phone keyboard. `type="search"` shows a Search button on iOS keyboards and renders a native clear button. `type="number"` for numeric (but consider `inputMode="numeric"` + pattern instead — `type=number` has rough UX with leading zeros, scroll wheel changes, etc.).

Question 7

How do I show validation errors on the input?

Accepted Answer

Add `aria-invalid="true"` plus a destructive-colored border (`border-destructive`). Render the error message below in a `<p className="text-xs text-destructive">` element. Wire `aria-describedby` from input → error id so screen readers announce the error when focused. For validation timing, validate on blur (not on every keystroke) — onChange validation creates janky feedback as users type. The validation variant in this gallery shows the canonical pattern.

Question 8

How do I install an input example?

Accepted Answer

Run the `npx shadcn@latest add` command shown under the Installation heading. The CLI copies the example's TSX source into `components/examples/input/…`, plus the shadcn/ui Input primitive if you don't already have it.

Question 9

How do I customize the input height or padding?

Accepted Answer

Pass className overrides — `className="h-9"` for a slightly smaller field, `"h-12 text-base"` for a bigger touch-friendly input. The default `h-10` works for most cases. For dense data forms (admin grids, settings tables), drop to `h-9` or `h-8` so the form fits more rows on screen. Match Button heights in the same row — mismatched heights between Input and adjacent Button reads as a visual bug.

Question 10

How do I disable autofill on specific inputs (search, OTP, etc.)?

Accepted Answer

Set `autoComplete="off"` on inputs that shouldn't be filled. For OTP / verification codes, use `autoComplete="one-time-code"` so iOS / Safari can fill the code from SMS. For password fields you don't want suggested (creating new password), use `autoComplete="new-password"`. Some browsers ignore `off` for security inputs; the more specific autocomplete tokens are more reliable.

Question 11

Which libraries do input examples depend on?

Accepted Answer

shadcn/ui Input (the styled wrapper generated into your project), Tailwind CSS, and (optionally) Lucide React for icons in special variants like password show/hide. React 19 baseline. No state library — input value lives in `useState` or your form library of choice (react-hook-form is the canonical pairing for forms).

Question 12

Are input examples accessible for keyboard and screen reader users?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Input renders a real native `<input>` element so screen readers, autofill, browser zoom, and assistive tech all work normally. Pair every Input with a Label (use shadcn's Field wrapper for the canonical pattern). For invalid state, set `aria-invalid="true"` and link the error message via `aria-describedby`. Required state via `required` attribute (HTML5 validation) plus `aria-required="true"` for redundancy.

Question 13

Can I use these input examples with React Server Components?

Accepted Answer

Static inputs (uncontrolled, native HTML form submission) render cleanly as Server Components. Controlled inputs (useState value, validation, autofocus) need a client boundary. For Next.js Server Actions: the form can use `<form action={serverAction}>` with native uncontrolled inputs — submit goes through the action without a client boundary at all, which is the lowest-JS path.

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