Syncing and Updating Components in Figma

Syncing and Updating Components in Figma are essential for maintaining consistency and efficiency in your design projects. These features allow you to make changes to components in one place and have those changes reflected across all instances, ensuring that your design system remains cohesive and up-to-date. Here are four key concepts related to Syncing and Updating Components:

1. Master Components

Master Components are the original versions of reusable elements in your design system. Any changes made to the master component will automatically update all instances of that component across your project.

Example: If you have a button component that is used in multiple screens, you can create a master component for it. If you later decide to change the button's color, you only need to update the master component. All instances of the button across your project will automatically reflect the new color.

2. Instance Components

Instance Components are copies of the master component that retain a connection to the original. While you can customize individual instances, they will still sync with the master component for any changes made to it.

Example: Suppose you have a card component used in various parts of your design. You can create instances of this card and customize them with different text or images. However, if you update the master card component to include a new shadow effect, all instances will automatically inherit this change unless you specifically override it.

3. Overriding Properties

Overriding Properties allows you to customize specific attributes of an instance component without breaking its connection to the master component. This feature is useful for making local adjustments while still benefiting from global updates.

Example: Imagine you have a navigation menu component with a default font size. You can override the font size for a specific instance of the menu on one screen without affecting other instances. If you later update the master component's font size, the overridden instance will retain its custom size, while other instances will sync with the new master size.

4. Updating Components

Updating Components involves applying changes made to the master component to all instances. Figma provides tools to easily update components, ensuring that your design system remains consistent and up-to-date.

Example: If you have a form component with multiple instances across different screens, and you decide to add a new field to the master form, you can use Figma's update feature to apply this change to all instances. This ensures that all forms in your project are consistent and include the new field.