Implementing Dark Mode on a Website with CSS and JavaScript
Jul 30, 2025 am 04:21 AMDefine light and dark themes using CSS variables for easy switching. 2. Add a JavaScript toggle button to switch themes and save user preference in localStorage. 3. Optionally, respect the user’s system preference with prefers-color-scheme to set the initial theme, ensuring a seamless and accessible experience that reduces eye strain and saves battery, while remembering user choices across sessions.
Adding dark mode to a website improves user experience by reducing eye strain in low-light environments and saving battery on OLED screens. Implementing it with CSS and JavaScript is straightforward and gives users control over their preferred theme. Here’s how you can do it effectively.
1. Define Light and Dark Themes with CSS Variables
Start by defining color schemes using CSS custom properties (variables). This makes it easy to switch between themes.
:root { /* Light theme (default) */ --bg-color: #ffffff; --text-color: #333333; --accent-color: #007bff; --border-color: #dddddd; } [data-theme="dark"] { /* Dark theme */ --bg-color: #121212; --text-color: #f5f5f5; --accent-color: #0d6efd; --border-color: #444444; }
Apply these variables to your site’s elements:
body { background-color: var(--bg-color); color: var(--text-color); transition: background-color 0.3s ease, color 0.3s ease; } a { color: var(--accent-color); } .card { border: 1px solid var(--border-color); }
The transition
property ensures a smooth color change when switching modes.
2. Add a Toggle Button with JavaScript
Create a button in your HTML to let users switch themes:
<button id="theme-toggle">Toggle Dark Mode</button>
Use JavaScript to toggle the data-theme
attribute on the <html>
or <body>
element:
const toggleButton = document.getElementById('theme-toggle'); const currentTheme = localStorage.getItem('theme') || 'light'; // Set saved theme on load document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', currentTheme); // Update button text based on current theme toggleButton.textContent = currentTheme === 'dark' ? 'Switch to Light' : 'Switch to Dark'; toggleButton.addEventListener('click', () => { let currentTheme = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme'); let newTheme = currentTheme === 'dark' ? 'light' : 'dark'; document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', newTheme); // Save preference localStorage.setItem('theme', newTheme); // Update button text toggleButton.textContent = newTheme === 'dark' ? 'Switch to Light' : 'Switch to Dark'; });
This script:
- Checks for a saved theme in
localStorage
- Applies it on page load
- Toggles between themes on button click
- Saves the user’s preference
3. (Optional) Respect User’s System Preference
You can default to the user’s OS-level preference using prefers-color-scheme
:
if (localStorage.getItem('theme') === null) { const systemPrefersDark = window.matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches; const initialTheme = systemPrefersDark ? 'dark' : 'light'; document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', initialTheme); localStorage.setItem('theme', initialTheme); }
This means new users get a theme that matches their system settings.
Final Notes
- Use semantic HTML and ARIA labels (e.g.,
aria-label="Toggle dark mode"
) for accessibility. - Test contrast ratios to ensure readability in both modes.
- Avoid relying solely on JavaScript—ensure the page works even if scripts are disabled.
With just a few lines of CSS and JavaScript, you can offer a polished dark mode that remembers user preferences and adapts to their environment.
Basically, define your themes with variables, toggle them with a button, and save the choice. Not complex—but makes a big difference.
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