---
title: "Theming"
description: "Set up labb themes, add a custom daisyUI colour scheme, and persist a visitor’s theme choice."
keywords: "labb theming django, daisyui themes django, tailwind themes django, django dark mode, labb_theme tag"
---
labb uses daisyUI 5 for themes. Define the colours in `input.css`, set the active theme on the page, and save a visitor’s choice in their session if you need to.
## Connect the theme controls
Start with the `` tag from [Installation](/docs/guide/getting-started/installation/). Add `{% labb_theme %}` to the `` element and give the dependency tag the endpoint that stores a theme choice.
```html
{% csrf_token %}
```
```python
from django.urls import path
from labb.shortcuts import set_theme_view
urlpatterns = [
# ... your other URLs
path('set-theme/', set_theme_view, name='set_theme'),
]
```
`{% labb_theme %}` writes `data-theme="theme-name"` to ``. It reads the user’s session and falls back to `LABB_SETTINGS['DEFAULT_THEME']`. Keep `{% csrf_token %}` in the page because the theme controller sends a POST request.
Use `{% labb_theme_val %}` when template logic needs the raw value. For example, `{% labb_theme_val as current_theme %}` stores it in a variable.
## Built-in themes
`labb init` subscribes the project to labb’s `themes` CSS group. During a build, labb imports that group into `.labb/labb.css`. Keep the generated import in `input.css`.
The standard labb themes are `labb-light` and `labb-dark`. The starter CSS also enables daisyUI’s `light` and `dark` themes.
```css
@import "tailwindcss";
@plugin "daisyui" {
themes: light, dark;
}
/* labb CSS - don't remove this line */
@import "../.labb/labb.css";
```
## Add a custom theme
Add an `@plugin "daisyui/theme"` block below the generated labb import in `input.css`. Do not edit `.labb/labb.css`; labb replaces it on every build. The daisyUI Theme Generator can help you choose values.
```css
@plugin "daisyui/theme" {
name: "my-brand";
default: false;
color-scheme: light;
--color-primary: oklch(55% 0.3 240);
--color-secondary: oklch(70% 0.25 200);
--color-accent: oklch(65% 0.25 160);
--color-base-100: oklch(98% 0.02 240);
--color-base-content: oklch(20% 0.05 240);
--radius-selector: 1rem;
--radius-field: 0.25rem;
--radius-box: 0.5rem;
}
```
The daisyUI theme documentation lists the available variables.
## Add a theme switcher
Add the `theme-controller` class to a radio control, checkbox, or toggle. With the endpoint configured, labb posts the selected value to Django.
```html
```
See the Theme Controller component documentation for more examples.
## Choose the default
```python
LABB_SETTINGS = {
'DEFAULT_THEME': 'labb-light', # Fallback when no theme is set
}
```
See settings reference for all options.
## Write a custom view
Use the utility functions when your app needs custom theme-selection logic instead of `set_theme_view`.
```python
from django.http import JsonResponse
from django.views.decorators.http import require_http_methods
from labb.shortcuts import set_labb_theme, get_labb_theme
from labb.contrib.theme import is_valid_theme_name
@require_http_methods(["POST"])
def set_theme(request):
theme = request.POST.get("theme")
if not theme:
return JsonResponse({"success": False, "error": "Theme parameter is required"}, status=400)
if not is_valid_theme_name(theme):
return JsonResponse({"success": False, "error": "Invalid theme name"}, status=400)
success = set_labb_theme(request, theme)
if success:
return JsonResponse({"success": True, "theme": theme})
return JsonResponse({"success": False, "error": "Failed to set theme"}, status=500)
```
Import these functions from `labb.shortcuts`.
- `set_labb_theme(request, theme)` stores the theme in the session and returns `True` or `False`
- `get_labb_theme(request)` returns the current session value
- `set_theme_view` provides the built-in persistence view
`set_labb_theme` stores whatever you give it. The theme name ends up in a `data-theme` attribute and in a
CSS selector, so check it first. `set_theme_view` already does; a custom view should call
`is_valid_theme_name` as above.
## Fix common problems
- **The theme does not apply**. Run `labb build` and confirm that the CSS and HTML use the same theme name.
- **The selection does not persist**. Put `{% csrf_token %}` in `` and set `setThemeEndpoint` on ``.
- **Styles do not update**. Refresh the browser without its cache, then restart `labb dev`.
## Related
Useful references include daisyUI themes, the theme generator, and an OKLCH colour picker.