In the age of modern web development, providing user-friendly features like Dark Mode can significantly enhance the user experience. This article explores how to utilize the darkmodejs utility package, making it a breeze to manage Dark Mode on your website.
What is darkmodejs?
darkmodejs is a utility package that allows you to toggle between light and dark themes on your web application, based on the user’s operating system preferences. It efficiently uses the prefers-color-scheme media query and the matchMedia API to adapt your site’s appearance seamlessly.
Prerequisites
Before you start implementing darkmodejs, ensure that you have:
- Operating System that supports Dark Mode (e.g., macOS 10.14, iOS 13, Windows 10, and more).
- Browser that supports prefers-color-scheme.
Installation
To install darkmodejs, simply use npm with the following command:
$ npm install @assortment/darkmodejs
Usage
Let’s get started by importing darkmodejs into your JavaScript application:
import darkmodejs from '@assortment/darkmodejs';
const config = {
onChange: (activeTheme, themes) => {
switch (activeTheme) {
case themes.DARK:
console.log("Dark mode enabled");
break;
case themes.LIGHT:
console.log("Light mode enabled");
break;
case themes.NO_PREF:
console.log("No preference enabled");
break;
case themes.NO_SUPP:
console.log("No support, sorry");
break;
}
}
};
darkmodejs(config);
How the Code Works – An Analogy
Imagine you are hosting a lively party where guests can choose their preferred lighting – bright and cheerful, or cozy and dim. In this analogy, the darkmodejs serves as your dedicated party planner:
- The guests (users) can express their preferences (light or dark mode).
- The planner (darkmodejs) listens to these requests, providing the desired atmosphere based on user choices.
- If someone has no preference, the planner maintains the current settings, ensuring everyone is comfortable.
This smooth transition enhances the experience for your guests—just like darkmodejs does for your users!
Cleaning Up
When you no longer need the dark mode listeners, such as when a component unmounts, you can call the removeListeners function:
const dmjs = darkmodejs(config);
dmjs.removeListeners();
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues while implementing darkmodejs, here are a few troubleshooting ideas:
- Make sure your browser supports prefers-color-scheme.
- Ensure that your operating system’s Dark Mode is enabled.
- Check for console errors that might indicate misconfigurations or issues in your code.
For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License © Luke Whitehouse.
Conclusion
With just a few lines of code, you can effectively manage Dark Mode in your application, providing a delightful experience for your users. At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.

