When should I use a dialog instead of a drawer or page navigation?

Use a dialog for short, focused tasks like confirmations or single-step forms. Use a [Shadcn Drawer](/components/drawer) on mobile for slides-in side content. Use page navigation for longer workflows or when you want a back button.

How do I handle form submission in a dialog?

Render your form fields inside DialogContent. Put [Shadcn Button](/components/button) actions (Submit, Cancel) inside DialogFooter. On form submission, update state and optionally close the dialog with open state or DialogClose.

Can I nest dialogs or show multiple dialogs at once?

Yes, but avoid deep nesting. Radix UI stacks dialogs so the topmost one receives focus. Use a [Shadcn Drawer](/components/drawer) or [Shadcn Popover](/components/popover) for secondary interactions instead of nested dialogs for better UX.

How do I scroll content inside a dialog on mobile?

DialogContent supports scrolling when content exceeds viewport. Use DialogHeader and DialogFooter outside the scrollable area so they stick while body scrolls, improving mobile usability for tall forms.

Is the dialog accessible for screen readers?

Yes. Radix UI handles focus management, roles, and keyboard navigation automatically. Ensure DialogTitle and DialogDescription are present and clear so screen readers announce the dialog purpose on open.

How do I prevent dialog dismissal for unsaved changes?

Listen to onOpenChange and check if the form has unsaved changes. If so, show a confirmation dialog before allowing dismissal, or disable the close button and Escape until the form is submitted or reset.

Shadcn Dialog

Browse 10 production-ready shadcn dialog components for confirmation modals, form layouts, scrollable content, and overlay interactions. Shadcn Dialog is compatible with Radix UI and Base UI interaction models and is fully aligned with Shadcn Create style options so your previews match your design tokens.

Basic dialog

Dialog with scrollable content

Dialog with scrollable content and sticky footer.

Dialog without a close button.

Dialog with custom close button

Full-screen fluid dialog with sticky header and footer

Confirmation dialog with destructive action

Cookie consent dialog

Dialog with keyboard shortcuts list

Dialog with full width button

Shadcn Dialog: Modal Forms and Confirmation Overlays

Shadcn Dialog is a modal overlay primitive built on Radix UI that stays compatible with Base UI components for focus management, keyboard behavior, and dismissal, while using Tailwind-friendly styles. It is fully compatible with Shadcn Create style options, so radius, fonts, and theme tokens from the create flow apply consistently to previews and exported UI.

It displays content in a centered overlay that overlays the main page, blocking interaction with the page until the dialog is dismissed, and supporting full-page forms, confirmations, and alerting.

ReUI lists dialog components inside realistic page layouts so you can judge overlay opacity, width, and integration with Shadcn Button actions next to other chrome, not only a minimal story. The sections below explain what the component is, why teams adopt it, which features matter, and how it pairs with form handling and validation.

What is Shadcn Dialog?

In UI terms, a dialog is a modal overlay that demands focus and prevents interaction with the page until dismissed. Shadcn Dialog follows the same accessibility expectations as Radix UI primitives and fits teams that also use Base UI-style unstyled building blocks.

Components here show confirmation dialogs, form modals with long content, scrollable body with sticky header, and nested dialogs. They are meant to answer whether your product needs a simple yes/no confirmation, a multi-step form modal, or a full-screen content browser, with styling that respects Shadcn Create options end to end.

Why Use Shadcn Dialog?

Dialogs focus user attention on a single task or decision. Teams use them for confirmations, critical settings changes, form submissions, and alerts. Unlike tooltips or popovers, dialogs block page interaction until resolved.

Pair dialogs with Shadcn Button for primary and secondary actions. Use inside to render Shadcn Field groups for multi-field forms. Combine with a Shadcn Alert Dialog for destructive confirmations that require explicit acknowledgment. Use Shadcn Command inside a dialog for command palettes triggered by Cmd+K.

Shadcn Dialog Features

Focus Trap. Focus stays trapped inside the dialog until dismissed, preventing accidental interaction with page content behind the overlay.
Keyboard Dismissal. Press Escape to close the dialog. Tab and Shift+Tab navigate within the dialog, ensuring keyboard-only users can interact fully.
Scrollable Content. DialogContent supports scrolling when content exceeds viewport height. Header and footer can stick while body scrolls for better UX on mobile.
Close Button. Optional built-in close button in the header. Hide with showCloseButton={false} if your dialog has action buttons instead.
Overlay Control. Customize overlay opacity, blur, and color. Control whether clicking the overlay dismisses the dialog or pressing Escape only.

Compose dialogs with Shadcn Field groups, Shadcn Button actions, and Shadcn Alert for validation feedback. Use Shadcn Checkbox for options and Shadcn Radio Group for exclusive choices.

Use Shadcn Alert Dialog instead of Dialog for destructive confirmations that require explicit user confirmation. It provides a stronger semantic meaning and forces consideration of the action.

Embed Shadcn Command inside a dialog for command palettes triggered by Cmd+K. Pair with Shadcn Tabs to organize dialog content into sections like "Settings", "Help", and "About".

Frequently Asked Questions