Variants and Instances Explained
Key Concepts
- Variants
- Instances
Variants
Variants in Figma allow you to create reusable components with multiple states or variations. For example, you can create a button component with different states like "Default," "Hover," and "Pressed." Each state can have its own set of properties, such as color and text, but they all share the same base structure. This makes it easy to maintain consistency across your design while allowing for flexibility.
Think of variants as different outfits for the same character in a video game. Each outfit (state) has its own unique look, but they all represent the same character. By using variants, you can quickly switch between these states without having to recreate the entire component each time.
Instances
Instances are specific instances of a component that you can place in your design. When you create an instance, it inherits all the properties of the master component. However, you can override specific properties of an instance without affecting the master component or other instances. This allows for a high degree of customization while maintaining the integrity of the original component.
Imagine instances as individual copies of a blueprint. Each copy (instance) can be customized with unique details, such as color or text, but it still retains the overall structure of the blueprint. This flexibility allows you to create variations of a component without altering the original design.
Examples and Analogies
Consider a navigation bar component with different states like "Active" and "Inactive." By creating variants for these states, you can ensure that all navigation bars in your design maintain a consistent look and feel. When you place an instance of the navigation bar in your design, you can choose the appropriate state (variant) and customize it as needed.
Think of a product card component with variants for different product categories. Each variant might have a different background color or icon. When you place instances of these product cards in your design, you can choose the appropriate variant and customize the text and images to match the specific product.
By mastering variants and instances in Figma, you can create more dynamic, reusable, and consistent designs, enhancing your prototyping workflow and making your projects more efficient and flexible.