How to Debug v0-Generated UI Components

v0 by Vercel creates beautiful UI components using shadcn/ui and Tailwind CSS. However, generated components often need refinement before production use. Here's how to debug and improve v0 code.

Understanding v0 Output

v0 generates React components using:

• shadcn/ui - Accessible component primitives
• Tailwind CSS - Utility-first styling
• Radix UI - Headless UI primitives
• Lucide React - Icon library

Common v0 Issues and Fixes

1. Missing Component Imports

Problem: v0 uses shadcn/ui components that may not be installed.

Solution:

# Install missing components
npx shadcn-ui@latest add button
npx shadcn-ui@latest add card
npx shadcn-ui@latest add input

2. Styling Conflicts

Problem: Generated Tailwind classes conflict with existing styles.

Solution: Use CSS layers or component-specific prefixes:

/* globals.css */
@layer components {
  .v0-card {
    @apply rounded-lg border bg-card text-card-foreground shadow-sm;
  }
}

3. Responsive Design Gaps

Problem: Components look great on desktop but break on mobile.

Solution: Add responsive variants:

// Before: Fixed width
<div className="w-[400px]">

// After: Responsive
<div className="w-full max-w-[400px] md:w-[400px]">

4. Dark Mode Issues

Problem: Colors don't adapt to dark mode.

Solution: Use CSS variables or dark: variants:

// Bad: Hardcoded colors
<p className="text-gray-600">

// Good: Theme-aware
<p className="text-muted-foreground">

// Or explicit dark mode
<p className="text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400">

5. Missing Interactivity

Problem: v0 generates static markup without state.

Solution: Add React state and handlers:

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  
  return (
    <Button onClick={() => setCount(c => c + 1)}>
      Count: {count}
    </Button>
  );
}

6. Accessibility Gaps

Problem: Missing ARIA attributes or keyboard navigation.

Solution:

// Add proper accessibility
<Dialog>
  <DialogTrigger asChild>
    <Button aria-haspopup="dialog">Open</Button>
  </DialogTrigger>
  <DialogContent aria-describedby="dialog-description">
    <DialogHeader>
      <DialogTitle>Title</DialogTitle>
      <DialogDescription id="dialog-description">
        Description for screen readers
      </DialogDescription>
    </DialogHeader>
  </DialogContent>
</Dialog>

v0 Best Practices

1. Be Specific in Prompts

# Good prompt
"Create a pricing card with:
- 3 tiers (Basic, Pro, Enterprise)
- Monthly/yearly toggle
- Feature comparison list
- CTA buttons
- Dark mode support
- Mobile responsive"

# Bad prompt
"Make a pricing page"

2. Iterate on Generations

Don't accept the first generation. Ask v0 to:

• "Make it more compact"
• "Add hover states"
• "Improve mobile layout"
• "Add loading skeleton"

3. Extract Reusable Components

v0 often generates monolithic components. Break them down:

// Instead of one huge component
function PricingSection() { /* 200 lines */ }

// Break into smaller pieces
function PricingCard({ tier }: { tier: Tier }) {}
function PricingToggle({ yearly, onChange }) {}
function FeatureList({ features }: { features: string[] }) {}

Testing v0 Components

Visual Testing Checklist

• [ ] Desktop (1920px, 1440px, 1280px)
• [ ] Tablet (768px)
• [ ] Mobile (375px, 320px)
• [ ] Dark mode
• [ ] Light mode
• [ ] With long content
• [ ] With minimal content
• [ ] Loading state
• [ ] Error state
• [ ] Empty state

Accessibility Testing

1. Navigate with keyboard only (Tab, Enter, Escape)
2. Test with screen reader (VoiceOver, NVDA)
3. Check color contrast (4.5:1 minimum)
4. Verify focus indicators are visible

Having trouble with a v0 component? Get expert help on CoderVibez.