Shadcn Separator
React separator for visual content dividers and section breaks with horizontal and vertical orientations. Built with TypeScript and Tailwind CSS for Next.js using Radix UI.
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Ever built an interface that felt like one giant wall of text? Or watched users get lost in dense forms because everything blended together? Yeah, that's exactly when you need separators. These shadcn/ui separators are like the periods of UI design—simple, essential, and you don't notice them until they're missing from your React applications.
Separator showcase
Clean horizontal and vertical lines for content organization:
Built on Radix UI Separator with proper ARIA semantics and screen reader support. This free open source component handles both decorative and semantic separation, making your layouts cleaner and more accessible. Styled with Tailwind CSS to match your design system instead of relying on generic border utilities.
npx shadcn@latest add separatorWhy separators actually improve interface clarity
Here's the thing—good separators are invisible until you need them. Think about how hard it is to scan a long form without section breaks, or navigate a breadcrumb trail without visual dividers. Separators create the visual hierarchy that helps users understand content relationships and navigate interfaces efficiently.
But separators aren't just decorative lines. They provide semantic meaning for screen readers, helping assistive technology users understand content structure. A well-placed separator tells both sighted and non-sighted users "this section ends, that section begins" without disrupting the visual design.
This free shadcn separator handles the complex parts—ARIA compliance, semantic roles, RTL support—while you focus on creating layouts that breathe and organize content logically. Whether you're building form sections, navigation breadcrumbs, or content dividers in your Next.js applications, separators that enhance clarity keep users oriented in your JavaScript projects.
Common separator patterns you'll actually use
Navigation breadcrumbs
Path indicators that show user location:
Form section dividers
Organize related fields with clear breaks:
Content area separation
Visual breaks between different content types:
Inline menu dividers
Clean separation between navigation items:
Text overlay separators
"Or continue with" style with centered text:
Features
This free open source separator component includes everything you need:
- TypeScript-first - Full type safety with orientation and semantic properties
- Radix UI powered - Battle-tested accessibility and ARIA compliance
- Semantic flexibility - Decorative lines or meaningful content breaks
- Tailwind CSS styled - Customize with utilities, not fighting border properties
- Dual orientation - Horizontal dividers and vertical separators both supported
- Screen reader ready - Proper separator roles and content structure announcements
- RTL support - Works correctly with right-to-left language layouts
- Zero bloat - Lightweight component that renders exactly what you need
API Reference
Core Component
| Component | Purpose | Key Props |
|---|---|---|
Separator | Visual or semantic divider | orientation, decorative for accessibility |
Configuration Options
| Prop | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
orientation | "horizontal" | "vertical" | Direction of the separator line |
decorative | boolean | Whether separator has semantic meaning |
className | string | Additional Tailwind styling classes |
Orientation Usage
| Orientation | Use Case | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| horizontal | Section breaks, content dividers | Full-width lines between content blocks |
| vertical | Navigation, inline separation | Fixed height lines between inline elements |
Production tips
Don't overuse separators or create visual clutter. This free shadcn/ui separator component creates clean lines, but too many separators fragment your interface. This TypeScript component renders what you specify—use separators strategically to enhance content organization, not replace good information architecture in your Next.js applications.
Match separator prominence to context and content hierarchy. Subtle separators work for content sections, more prominent ones for navigation elements. This open source shadcn separator takes whatever styling you provide—choose visual weight that supports your content hierarchy rather than competing with it.
Consider spacing and breathing room around separators. Lines without proper margin create cramped layouts that defeat the purpose. This JavaScript component renders the separator—you provide the spacing that creates actual visual separation between content sections.
Test contrast carefully for accessibility and visual effectiveness. Separators should be visible enough to provide structure but subtle enough not to distract from content. The Tailwind CSS styled component supports any color and opacity—choose values that work for your users and design system.
Use semantic separators for content structure, decorative ones for visual breaks. Screen readers treat these differently. This component supports both modes—choose based on whether the separator conveys meaning or just provides visual organization.
Integration with other components
Separators naturally work with Breadcrumb components for navigation paths and Card components for content section organization in your React applications. Use them within Form components to group related fields logically.
For navigation interfaces, combine separators with NavigationMenu components or Menubar components to create clear item boundaries. This open source pattern enhances menu scanning and selection accuracy.
When building content layouts, pair separators with ScrollArea components for long content sections or Tabs components for organized information display. Sheet and Dialog components benefit from separators that organize complex content hierarchically.
For data presentation, use separators with DataTable components for section breaks or Alert components for message organization. Your JavaScript application can compose these shadcn components while maintaining visual consistency and content clarity.
Questions you might have
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