# Quick Reference

**Bookmark this page** for instant lookups of colors, spacing, typography, components, and common patterns. Your go-to cheat sheet for the Syndarix design system.

---

## Table of Contents

1. [Color Tokens](#color-tokens)
2. [Typography Scale](#typography-scale)
3. [Spacing Scale](#spacing-scale)
4. [Component Variants](#component-variants)
5. [Layout Patterns](#layout-patterns)
6. [Common Class Combinations](#common-class-combinations)
7. [Decision Trees](#decision-trees)

---

## Color Tokens

### Semantic Colors

| Token                                        | Usage                    | Example                    |
| -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | -------------------------- |
| `bg-primary text-primary-foreground`         | CTAs, primary actions    | Primary button             |
| `bg-secondary text-secondary-foreground`     | Secondary actions        | Secondary button           |
| `bg-destructive text-destructive-foreground` | Delete, errors           | Delete button, error alert |
| `bg-muted text-muted-foreground`             | Disabled, subtle         | Disabled button, TabsList  |
| `bg-accent text-accent-foreground`           | Hover states             | Dropdown hover             |
| `bg-card text-card-foreground`               | Cards, elevated surfaces | Card component             |
| `bg-popover text-popover-foreground`         | Popovers, dropdowns      | Dropdown content           |
| `bg-background text-foreground`              | Page background          | Body                       |
| `text-foreground`                            | Body text                | Paragraphs                 |
| `text-muted-foreground`                      | Secondary text           | Captions, helper text      |
| `border-border`                              | Borders, dividers        | Card borders, separators   |
| `border-input`                               | Input borders            | Text input border          |
| `ring-ring`                                  | Focus indicators         | Focus ring                 |

### Usage Examples

```tsx
// Primary button
<Button className="bg-primary text-primary-foreground">Save</Button>

// Destructive button
<Button className="bg-destructive text-destructive-foreground">Delete</Button>

// Secondary text
<p className="text-muted-foreground text-sm">Helper text</p>

// Card
<Card className="bg-card text-card-foreground border-border">...</Card>

// Focus ring
<div className="focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring">...</div>
```

---

## Typography Scale

### Font Sizes

| Class       | rem      | px   | Use Case                 | Common |
| ----------- | -------- | ---- | ------------------------ | :----: |
| `text-xs`   | 0.75rem  | 12px | Labels, fine print       |        |
| `text-sm`   | 0.875rem | 14px | Secondary text, captions |   ⭐   |
| `text-base` | 1rem     | 16px | Body text (default)      |   ⭐   |
| `text-lg`   | 1.125rem | 18px | Subheadings              |        |
| `text-xl`   | 1.25rem  | 20px | Card titles              |   ⭐   |
| `text-2xl`  | 1.5rem   | 24px | Section headings         |   ⭐   |
| `text-3xl`  | 1.875rem | 30px | Page titles              |   ⭐   |
| `text-4xl`  | 2.25rem  | 36px | Large headings           |        |
| `text-5xl`  | 3rem     | 48px | Hero text                |        |

⭐ = Most commonly used

### Font Weights

| Class           | Value | Use Case             | Common |
| --------------- | ----- | -------------------- | :----: |
| `font-light`    | 300   | De-emphasized text   |        |
| `font-normal`   | 400   | Body text (default)  |   ⭐   |
| `font-medium`   | 500   | Labels, menu items   |   ⭐   |
| `font-semibold` | 600   | Subheadings, buttons |   ⭐   |
| `font-bold`     | 700   | Headings, emphasis   |   ⭐   |

⭐ = Most commonly used

### Common Typography Combinations

```tsx
// Page title
<h1 className="text-3xl font-bold">Page Title</h1>

// Section heading
<h2 className="text-2xl font-semibold mb-4">Section Heading</h2>

// Card title
<h3 className="text-xl font-semibold">Card Title</h3>

// Body text (default)
<p className="text-base text-foreground">Regular paragraph</p>

// Secondary text
<p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Helper text</p>

// Label
<Label className="text-sm font-medium">Field Label</Label>
```

---

## Spacing Scale

### Spacing Values

| Token | rem      | px   | Use Case                       | Common |
| ----- | -------- | ---- | ------------------------------ | :----: |
| `0`   | 0        | 0px  | No spacing                     |        |
| `px`  | -        | 1px  | Borders                        |        |
| `0.5` | 0.125rem | 2px  | Very tight                     |        |
| `1`   | 0.25rem  | 4px  | Icon gaps                      |        |
| `2`   | 0.5rem   | 8px  | Tight spacing (label → input)  |   ⭐   |
| `3`   | 0.75rem  | 12px | Component padding              |        |
| `4`   | 1rem     | 16px | Standard spacing (form fields) |   ⭐   |
| `5`   | 1.25rem  | 20px | Medium spacing                 |        |
| `6`   | 1.5rem   | 24px | Section spacing (cards)        |   ⭐   |
| `8`   | 2rem     | 32px | Large gaps                     |   ⭐   |
| `10`  | 2.5rem   | 40px | Very large gaps                |        |
| `12`  | 3rem     | 48px | Section dividers               |   ⭐   |
| `16`  | 4rem     | 64px | Page sections                  |        |

⭐ = Most commonly used

### Spacing Methods

| Method      | Use Case                  | Example      |
| ----------- | ------------------------- | ------------ |
| `gap-4`     | Flex/grid spacing         | `flex gap-4` |
| `space-y-4` | Vertical stack spacing    | `space-y-4`  |
| `space-x-4` | Horizontal stack spacing  | `space-x-4`  |
| `p-4`       | Padding (all sides)       | `p-4`        |
| `px-4`      | Horizontal padding        | `px-4`       |
| `py-4`      | Vertical padding          | `py-4`       |
| `m-4`       | Margin (exceptions only!) | `mt-8`       |

### Common Spacing Patterns

```tsx
// Form vertical spacing
<form className="space-y-4">...</form>

// Field group spacing (label → input)
<div className="space-y-2">
  <Label>...</Label>
  <Input />
</div>

// Button group horizontal spacing
<div className="flex gap-4">
  <Button>Cancel</Button>
  <Button>Save</Button>
</div>

// Card grid spacing
<div className="grid grid-cols-3 gap-6">...</div>

// Page padding
<div className="container mx-auto px-4 py-8">...</div>

// Card padding
<Card className="p-6">...</Card>
```

---

## Component Variants

### Button Variants

```tsx
<Button variant="default">Primary</Button>
<Button variant="secondary">Secondary</Button>
<Button variant="outline">Outline</Button>
<Button variant="ghost">Ghost</Button>
<Button variant="link">Link</Button>
<Button variant="destructive">Delete</Button>

<Button size="sm">Small</Button>
<Button size="default">Default</Button>
<Button size="lg">Large</Button>
<Button size="icon"><Icon /></Button>
```

### Badge Variants

```tsx
<Badge variant="default">New</Badge>
<Badge variant="secondary">Draft</Badge>
<Badge variant="outline">Pending</Badge>
<Badge variant="destructive">Critical</Badge>
```

### Alert Variants

```tsx
<Alert variant="default">Info alert</Alert>
<Alert variant="destructive">Error alert</Alert>
```

---

## Layout Patterns

### Grid Columns

```tsx
// 1 → 2 → 3 progression (most common)
className = 'grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6';

// 1 → 2 → 4 progression
className = 'grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-4 gap-6';

// 1 → 2 progression (simple)
className = 'grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-6';

// 1 → 3 progression (skip 2)
className = 'grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6';
```

### Container Widths

```tsx
// Standard container
className = 'container mx-auto px-4';

// Constrained widths
className = 'max-w-md mx-auto'; // 448px - Forms
className = 'max-w-lg mx-auto'; // 512px - Modals
className = 'max-w-2xl mx-auto'; // 672px - Articles
className = 'max-w-4xl mx-auto'; // 896px - Wide layouts
className = 'max-w-7xl mx-auto'; // 1280px - Full page
```

### Flex Patterns

```tsx
// Horizontal flex
className = 'flex gap-4';

// Vertical flex
className = 'flex flex-col gap-4';

// Center items
className = 'flex items-center justify-center';

// Space between
className = 'flex items-center justify-between';

// Wrap items
className = 'flex flex-wrap gap-4';

// Responsive: stack on mobile, row on desktop
className = 'flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-4';
```

---

## Common Class Combinations

### Page Container

```tsx
<div className="container mx-auto px-4 py-8">
  <div className="max-w-4xl mx-auto space-y-6">{/* Content */}</div>
</div>
```

### Card Header with Action

```tsx
<CardHeader className="flex flex-row items-center justify-between space-y-0">
  <div>
    <CardTitle>Title</CardTitle>
    <CardDescription>Description</CardDescription>
  </div>
  <Button variant="outline" size="sm">
    Action
  </Button>
</CardHeader>
```

### Dashboard Metric Card Header

```tsx
<CardHeader className="flex flex-row items-center justify-between space-y-0 pb-2">
  <CardTitle className="text-sm font-medium">Metric Title</CardTitle>
  <Icon className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
</CardHeader>
```

### Form Field

```tsx
<div className="space-y-2">
  <Label htmlFor="field">Label</Label>
  <Input id="field" />
  {error && <p className="text-sm text-destructive">{error.message}</p>}
</div>
```

### Centered Form Card

```tsx
<div className="container mx-auto px-4 py-8">
  <Card className="max-w-md mx-auto">
    <CardHeader>
      <CardTitle>Form Title</CardTitle>
    </CardHeader>
    <CardContent>
      <form className="space-y-4">{/* Fields */}</form>
    </CardContent>
  </Card>
</div>
```

### Button Group

```tsx
<div className="flex gap-4">
  <Button variant="outline">Cancel</Button>
  <Button>Save</Button>
</div>

// Or right-aligned
<div className="flex justify-end gap-4">
  <Button variant="outline">Cancel</Button>
  <Button>Save</Button>
</div>
```

### Icon with Text

```tsx
<div className="flex items-center gap-2">
  <Icon className="h-4 w-4" />
  <span>Text</span>
</div>
```

### Responsive Text

```tsx
<h1 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl lg:text-4xl font-bold">Responsive Title</h1>
```

### Responsive Padding

```tsx
<div className="p-4 sm:p-6 lg:p-8">Responsive padding</div>
```

---

## Decision Trees

### Grid vs Flex

```
Need equal-width columns? → Grid
  Example: grid grid-cols-3 gap-6

Need flexible item sizes? → Flex
  Example: flex gap-4

Need 2D layout (rows + columns)? → Grid
  Example: grid grid-cols-2 grid-rows-3 gap-4

Need 1D layout (row OR column)? → Flex
  Example: flex flex-col gap-4
```

### Margin vs Padding vs Gap

```
Spacing between siblings?
  ├─ Flex/Grid parent? → gap
  └─ Regular parent? → space-y or space-x

Inside component? → padding

Exception case (one child different)? → margin
```

### Button Variant

```
What's the action?
├─ Primary action (save, submit) → variant="default"
├─ Secondary action (cancel, back) → variant="secondary"
├─ Alternative action (view, edit) → variant="outline"
├─ Subtle action (icon in list) → variant="ghost"
├─ In-text action (learn more) → variant="link"
└─ Delete/remove action → variant="destructive"
```

### Form Field Error Display

```
Has error?
  ├─YES─> Add aria-invalid={true}
  │       Add aria-describedby="field-error"
  │       Add border-destructive class
  │       Show <p id="field-error" className="text-sm text-destructive">
  │
  └─NO──> Normal state
```

---

## Keyboard Shortcuts

| Key           | Action                   | Context             |
| ------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------- |
| `Tab`         | Move focus forward       | All                 |
| `Shift + Tab` | Move focus backward      | All                 |
| `Enter`       | Activate button/link     | Buttons, links      |
| `Space`       | Activate button/checkbox | Buttons, checkboxes |
| `Escape`      | Close overlay            | Dialogs, dropdowns  |
| `Arrow keys`  | Navigate items           | Dropdowns, lists    |
| `Home`        | Jump to start            | Lists               |
| `End`         | Jump to end              | Lists               |

---

## Accessibility Quick Checks

### Contrast Ratios

- **Normal text (< 18px)**: 4.5:1 minimum
- **Large text (≥ 18px or ≥ 14px bold)**: 3:1 minimum
- **UI components**: 3:1 minimum

### ARIA Attributes

```tsx
// Icon-only button
<Button size="icon" aria-label="Close">
  <X className="h-4 w-4" />
</Button>

// Form field error
<Input
  aria-invalid={!!error}
  aria-describedby={error ? 'field-error' : undefined}
/>
{error && <p id="field-error">{error.message}</p>}

// Required field
<Input aria-required="true" required />

// Live region
<div aria-live="polite">{statusMessage}</div>
```

---

## Import Cheat Sheet

```tsx
// Components
import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
import { Card, CardHeader, CardTitle, CardContent } from '@/components/ui/card';
import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
import { Alert, AlertDescription, AlertTitle } from '@/components/ui/alert';
import { Dialog, DialogContent, DialogHeader, DialogTitle } from '@/components/ui/dialog';
import {
  Select,
  SelectContent,
  SelectItem,
  SelectTrigger,
  SelectValue,
} from '@/components/ui/select';
import { Tabs, TabsList, TabsTrigger, TabsContent } from '@/components/ui/tabs';

// Utilities
import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';

// Form
import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
import { zodResolver } from '@hookform/resolvers/zod';
import { z } from 'zod';

// Toast
import { toast } from 'sonner';

// Icons
import { Check, X, AlertCircle, Loader2 } from 'lucide-react';
```

---

## Zod Validation Patterns

```tsx
// Required string
z.string().min(1, 'Required');

// Email
z.string().email('Invalid email');

// Min/max length
z.string().min(8, 'Min 8 chars').max(100, 'Max 100 chars');

// Optional
z.string().optional();

// Number
z.coerce.number().min(0).max(100);

// Enum
z.enum(['admin', 'user', 'guest']);

// Boolean
z.boolean().refine((val) => val === true, { message: 'Must accept' });

// Password confirmation
z.object({
  password: z.string().min(8),
  confirmPassword: z.string(),
}).refine((data) => data.password === data.confirmPassword, {
  message: "Passwords don't match",
  path: ['confirmPassword'],
});
```

---

## Responsive Breakpoints

| Breakpoint | Min Width | Typical Device              |
| ---------- | --------- | --------------------------- |
| `sm:`      | 640px     | Large phones, small tablets |
| `md:`      | 768px     | Tablets                     |
| `lg:`      | 1024px    | Laptops, desktops           |
| `xl:`      | 1280px    | Large desktops              |
| `2xl:`     | 1536px    | Extra large screens         |

```tsx
// Mobile-first (default → sm → md → lg)
className = 'text-sm sm:text-base md:text-lg lg:text-xl';
className = 'p-4 sm:p-6 lg:p-8';
className = 'grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3';
```

---

## Shadows & Radius

### Shadows

```tsx
shadow - sm; // Cards, panels
shadow - md; // Dropdowns, tooltips
shadow - lg; // Modals, popovers
shadow - xl; // Floating notifications
```

### Border Radius

```tsx
rounded - sm; // 2px - Tags, small badges
rounded - md; // 4px - Inputs, small buttons
rounded - lg; // 6px - Cards, buttons (default)
rounded - xl; // 10px - Large cards, modals
rounded - full; // Pills, avatars, icon buttons
```

---

## Next Steps

- **For detailed info**: Navigate to specific guides from [README](./README.md)
- **For examples**: Visit [/dev/components](/dev/components)
- **For AI**: See [AI Guidelines](./08-ai-guidelines.md)

---

**Related Documentation:**

- [Quick Start](./00-quick-start.md) - 5-minute crash course
- [Foundations](./01-foundations.md) - Detailed color, typography, spacing
- [Components](./02-components.md) - All component variants
- [Layouts](./03-layouts.md) - Layout patterns
- [Forms](./06-forms.md) - Form patterns
- [Accessibility](./07-accessibility.md) - WCAG compliance

**Last Updated**: November 2, 2025