CSS Variables

Community themes customize Cortex by setting CSS variables. The variables below are generated by the built-in theme system and are safe targets for community CSS.

Primitive Scales

Built-in themes expose scale variables for each token key:

• --stone-* and --mist-*
• --ink-* and --slate-*
• --amber-* and --rose-*
• --amber-d-* and --rose-d-*
• --red-*
• --green-*
• --yellow-*

Community themes do not need to define every primitive scale. Prefer semantic variables first.

App Surfaces

--bg-primary--bg-secondary--bg-tertiary--bg-elevated--bg-hover--bg-active--bg-selected--bg-code--bg-tag--background--foreground--card--card-foreground--popover--popover-foreground

Text, Accent, Links, and Borders

--text-primary--text-secondary--text-muted--text-disabled--text-placeholder--text-on-accent--accent--accent-hover--accent-active--accent-subtle--accent-border--accent-text--brand--brand-hover--brand-active--brand-subtle--brand-border--brand-text--link--link-hover--link-broken--border--border-subtle--border-strong--border-focus--ring

Typography

--font-ui--font-editor--font-mono--ui-font-size--ui-font-weight--ui-line-height--editor-font-size--editor-font-weight--editor-line-height--editor-paragraph-spacing

User appearance settings may override font families and font sizes. Themes should still define weights and line heights.

Components and Chrome

--btn-primary-bg--btn-primary-text--btn-primary-hover--input-bg--input-border--input-focus-ring--menu-bg--menu-border--menu-shadow--menu-hover--modal-bg--modal-border--modal-shadow--tooltip-bg--tooltip-text--sidebar-bg--sidebar-border--sidebar-tree-guide--settings-group-bg--settings-group-border--settings-group-divider--tab-bg--tab-active-bg--tab-accent--statusbar-bg--statusbar-border--scrollbar-thumb--scrollbar-hover--shadow-raised--shadow-floating--shadow-overlay--radius

Status Colors

--status-error--error-bg--status-error-foreground--status-error-border--status-error-on-solid--status-success--success-bg--status-success-foreground--status-success-border--status-success-on-solid--status-warning--warning-bg--status-warning-foreground--status-warning-border--status-warning-on-solid--destructive--destructive-foreground

Editor, Syntax, and Markdown

--syntax-keyword--syntax-string--syntax-comment--syntax-number--syntax-function--syntax-type--syntax-operator--syntax-property--syntax-heading--syntax-meta--editor-selection-bg--editor-search-match-bg--editor-search-match-active-bg--markdown-content-width--markdown-content-gutter--markdown-block-radius--markdown-block-spacing--markdown-code-font-family--markdown-code-font-size--markdown-code-padding-inline--markdown-code-padding-block--markdown-callout-padding-block--markdown-callout-padding-inline-start--markdown-callout-padding-inline-end

Headings and Tags

--heading-font-weight--normal-weight--inline-title-margin-bottom--h1-font-size--h2-font-size--h3-font-size--h4-font-size--h5-font-size--h6-font-size--h1-color--h2-color--h3-color--h4-color--h5-color--h6-color--tag-bg--tag-active-bg--tag-text--tag-active-text--tag-font-size--tag-font-weight--tag-border-radius--tag-padding