A banner does not have to look like tarteaucitron
The default tarteaucitron banner is a starting point. There is no requirement to keep exactly the same appearance, colours or layout.
Some users take customization much further. I have even seen tarteaucitron integrations visually reproduce the style of other CMPs such as Cookiebot. Technically, that is not a problem.
The DOM remains accessible
tarteaucitron is written in plain JavaScript and does not use Shadow DOM to isolate its interface. The generated elements therefore remain accessible in the normal page DOM.
Website CSS can target them, and additional JavaScript can modify or extend the behaviour when needed. That simplicity is intentional.
It follows the same reasoning as my choice to stick to plain JavaScript: I prefer a web interface that remains inspectable and customizable with standard browser tools.
The dashboard already covers common needs
With tarteaucitron Pro, text, colours and various options can be configured directly from the online dashboard. Custom CSS can also be added there.
For deeper customization with specific JavaScript, the code must be added directly to the website. The dashboard is not intended to become a remote JavaScript editor.
Customization does not mean manipulation
This freedom has a limit that is not technical but functional: customization should not turn a balanced choice into a path designed to push users toward acceptance.
Colours, dimensions, spacing and visual organisation can all change. That does not make a deliberately hidden or much less visible refusal button acceptable.
I discussed this in the article about “continue without accepting”: with tarteaucitron, accepting and refusing should remain equally easy.
Accessibility remains a useful constraint
Customization must also preserve keyboard navigation, labels, contrast and the overall understanding of the panel.
This becomes particularly important when the interface is heavily modified. A CMP can be visually customized while remaining accessible; the two goals are not incompatible.
A free interface, with the same purpose
I like that tarteaucitron can blend into a website design instead of imposing its own visual identity. The project provides the consent mechanism, not a mandatory graphic identity.
The best result is therefore often a banner that looks like the website hosting it while remaining immediately understandable and honest for the person making the choice.
