Troubleshooting

Common issues and how to fix them

Troubleshooting

Common issues you might encounter and their solutions.

Styles not applying

Check the class name

First, verify the class name is being applied:

      tsx
    
    function Button() {
  return <button className={button('base')}>Click me</button>;
}

Open DevTools and check that the element has the expected class:

      html
    
    <!-- Should see something like this -->
<button class="button-base">Click me</button>

If no class is present:

Check that the component is actually rendering
Verify the style definition is being imported
Ensure no JavaScript errors are preventing execution

If class is present but styles don't apply:

Check the computed styles in DevTools
Verify no other CSS is overriding your styles
Look for CSS specificity issues

Check CSS injection

Styles are injected lazily. Open DevTools and look for a <style> tag with typestyles:

      html
    
    <head>
  <style id="typestyles">
    .button-base {
      padding: 8px 16px;
    }
  </style>
</head>

If the style tag is missing:

Ensure typestyles is actually being imported
Check that components using the styles are rendering
Verify no bundler issues (check console for errors)

If styles are in the tag but not applied:

Check for CSS syntax errors
Verify the class name in HTML matches the CSS selector
Look for ad blockers that might be removing styles

Duplicate namespace warnings

What it means

Style namespace "button" is also used in /path/to/other/file.ts.
Duplicate namespaces cause class name collisions.

This means you've created two different styles with the same namespace:

      ts
    
    // File A
const button = styles.create('button', { ... });

// File B
const button = styles.create('button', { ... }); // Same namespace!

How to fix

Use unique, descriptive namespaces:

      ts
    
    // ✅ Good - descriptive names
const iconButton = styles.create('icon-button', { ... });
const textButton = styles.create('text-button', { ... });
const submitButton = styles.create('submit-button', { ... });

// ❌ Bad - generic names that collide
const button = styles.create('button', { ... });
const button2 = styles.create('button', { ... }); // Collision!

TypeScript errors

"Property does not exist"

Property 'tertiary' does not exist on type '{ primary: string; secondary: string; }'

You're trying to access a token that doesn't exist:

      ts
    
    const color = tokens.create('color', {
  primary: '#0066ff',
  secondary: '#6b7280',
});

color.tertiary; // Error! This token doesn't exist

Fix: Add the missing token or use an existing one.

"No overload matches this call"

No overload matches this call.
  The last overload gave the following error.
    Argument of type 'string' is not assignable to parameter of type...

You're passing an invalid variant:

      ts
    
    const button = styles.create('button', {
  base: { ... },
  primary: { ... },
});

button('base', 'secondary'); // Error! 'secondary' is not a valid variant

Fix: Use only defined variants.

Cannot find module 'typestyles'

Cannot find module 'typestyles' or its corresponding type declarations.

Fix:

Make sure typestyles is installed:
bash
```
npm install typestyles
```

Check your import path:

      ts
    
    // ✅ Correct
import { styles } from 'typestyles';

// ❌ Incorrect
import { styles } from './typestyles';

Restart TypeScript server in your editor

SSR issues

Styles not included in SSR output

Symptom: Page renders without styles, then styles appear after hydration (flash of unstyled content).

Cause: Not using collectStyles() during render.

Fix:

      ts
    
    import { collectStyles } from 'typestyles/server';
import { renderToString } from 'react-dom/server';

// ❌ Wrong
const html = renderToString(<App />);

// ✅ Correct
const { html, css } = collectStyles(() => renderToString(<App />));
// Include css in your HTML response

For Next.js, follow the SSR guide and use @typestyles/next (getRegisteredCss, TypestylesStylesheet, or @typestyles/next/server helpers) so the document matches what App Router streams.

Hydration mismatch

Symptom: React warning about hydration mismatch or styles appearing twice.

Cause: Mismatch between server and client CSS injection.

Fix:

Ensure the style tag ID matches:

      html
    
    <!-- Server -->
<style id="typestyles">
  ${css}
</style>

<!-- Client looks for this ID -->

Don't manually create the style tag on client:

      tsx
    
    // ❌ Don't do this on client
document.head.innerHTML += `<style id="typestyles">...</style>`;

// ✅ TypeStyles handles this automatically

Empty CSS in SSR

Symptom: css string is empty.

Cause: Styles aren't being created during the render pass.

Fix: Make sure components with typestyles are actually rendered inside collectStyles():

      ts
    

      
    

    // ❌ Wrong - App doesn't use typestyles components
const { css } = collectStyles(() => renderToString(<App />));
// css is empty because App doesn't use styles

// ✅ Correct - Components with styles are rendered
const { css } = collectStyles(() =>
  renderToString(
    <App>
      <Button /> {/* Button uses typestyles */}
    </App>
  )
);

  

Build issues

Bundler errors

ESM/CJS issues:

If you get errors about ES modules:

      json
    
    // package.json
{
  "type": "module"
}

Or use .mjs extension for your files.

Webpack issues:

If using webpack, ensure it can handle ES modules:

      js
    
    // webpack.config.js
module.exports = {
  resolve: {
    fullySpecified: false,
  },
};

Missing dependencies

If you see errors about missing dependencies, ensure you've installed typestyles:

bash

npm install typestyles

# If using Vite plugin
npm install -D @typestyles/vite

Runtime errors

"Cannot read property 'create' of undefined"

TypeError: Cannot read property 'create' of undefined

Cause: Importing incorrectly.

Fix:

      ts
    
    // ✅ Correct
import { styles } from 'typestyles';

// ❌ Incorrect
import styles from 'typestyles'; // Wrong! Use named import

"insertRule is not a function"

TypeError: sheet.insertRule is not a function

Cause: Running in an environment without a real DOM (like jsdom with some configurations).

Fix: Mock the CSSOM APIs in your test setup:

      ts
    
    // test-setup.ts
Object.defineProperty(document, 'styleSheets', {
  value: [
    {
      insertRule: jest.fn(),
      cssRules: [],
    },
  ],
});

Or use a real browser for testing (Playwright, Cypress).

Styling issues

Specificity problems

Your styles are being overridden by other CSS:

      css
    
    /* Your typestyles class */
.button-base {
  color: blue;
}

/* Other CSS overrides it */
button {
  color: red;
} /* Higher specificity or loaded later */

Fixes:

Use more specific selectors:

      ts
    
    const button = styles.create('button', {
  base: {
    color: 'blue',
    // Increase specificity
    '&.button-base': {
      color: 'blue',
    },
  },
});

Load typestyles CSS after other CSS
Use !important (not recommended):
ts
```
base: {
  color: 'blue !important',
}
```

Cascade issues

Styles from parent components affecting children:

      ts
    
    const parent = styles.create('parent', {
  base: {
    '& button': { color: 'red' }, // Affects ALL buttons inside
  },
});

Fix: Be more specific or avoid nesting:

      ts
    
    const parent = styles.create('parent', {
  base: {
    // Don't use & button, style specific class instead
  },
});

const childButton = styles.create('child-button', {
  base: {
    color: 'red',
  },
});

Media queries not working

      ts
    
    const responsive = styles.create('responsive', {
  base: {
    '@media (max-width: 768px)': {
      display: 'none',
    },
  },
});

Check:

Viewport is actually below 768px
No syntax errors in the media query
Check DevTools to see if the media query CSS was generated

Theme issues

Theme not applying

      tsx
    
    const darkTheme = tokens.createTheme('dark', {
  color: {
    primary: '#66b3ff',
  },
});

<div className={darkTheme}>Content</div>;

Check:

The theme class is applied (check DevTools)
Tokens are being used in styles (not hardcoded values)

The token namespace matches:

      ts
    
    // Creating
const color = tokens.create('color', { ... });

// Overriding
tokens.createTheme('dark', {
  color: { ... } // Must match 'color' namespace
});

Theme flashing on load

Cause: Theme is applied after initial render.

Fix: Apply theme class before first paint:

      html
    
    <head>
  <script>
    // Set theme immediately
    const theme = localStorage.getItem('theme');
    if (theme === 'dark') {
      document.documentElement.classList.add('theme-dark');
    }
  </script>
</head>

Vite plugin issues

HMR not working

Check that the plugin is installed and configured:

      ts
    
    // vite.config.ts
import typestyles from '@typestyles/vite';

export default {
  plugins: [typestyles()],
};

Ensure files import from 'typestyles' (not relative paths)
Check browser console for HMR-related errors

"typestyles is not defined"

Cause: Plugin isn't transforming the file.

Fix: Make sure files import from 'typestyles':

      ts
    
    // ✅ This file will be transformed
import { styles } from 'typestyles';

// ❌ This file won't be transformed
import { styles } from '../path/to/typestyles';

Performance issues

Slow initial render

Check for:

Too many style definitions at once
Creating styles inside components
Very large CSS rules

Fixes:

Code split your styles
Move style definitions to module level
Simplify complex selectors

Memory leaks

Symptoms: App gets slower over time, memory usage grows.

Common causes:

Creating styles in event handlers or components
Dynamic style values generating infinite variations

Fix:

      ts
    
    // ❌ Never do this
function Component() {
  const styles = createStyles(); // Creates on every render
}

// ✅ Do this instead
const styles = createStyles(); // Create once at module level

function Component() {
  // Use existing styles
}

Inspecting registered CSS

To verify what the runtime has registered (for example in a route handler or test), call getRegisteredCss() from typestyles. For SSR-specific collection, use collectStyles() from typestyles/server as described in the SSR guide.

Getting help

If you're still stuck:

Check the documentation: Review the relevant guide for your use case
Search issues: Look for similar problems in GitHub issues
Create a minimal reproduction:
- Create the smallest possible example that shows the issue
- Share the code and expected vs actual behavior
Open an issue: Include:
- TypeScript version
- Bundler (Vite, webpack, etc.)
- Browser
- Minimal reproduction code

Quick checklist

When something isn't working, check:

Is typestyles installed?
Are imports correct (named imports, not default)?
Are styles defined at module level (not in components)?
Are namespaces unique?
Is the component actually rendering?
Are there any JavaScript errors in console?
Are the class names in HTML what you expect?
Is the CSS present in the DOM (DevTools)?
For SSR: Is collectStyles() being used?
For themes: Are tokens being used (not hardcoded values)?

Last updated Apr 3, 2026 Edit this page

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