Managing Variants and Instances in Figma

Key Concepts

• Variants
• Instances

Variants

Variants in Figma are different states or variations of a component. They allow you to create multiple versions of a component while maintaining a single source of truth. For example, a button component can have variants for different sizes, colors, or states (e.g., hover, active, disabled). Variants help in maintaining consistency and reducing redundancy in your design.

To create variants:

1. Select the component you want to create variants for.
2. In the right-hand panel, click on the "Create Variants" button.
3. Define the different states or variations by adding properties and values.
4. Save the variants, and they will appear as separate instances in the components panel.

Example: If you have a button component, you can create variants for different sizes (small, medium, large) and colors (blue, green, red). Each variant will be a separate instance of the button component.

Instances

Instances are specific versions of a component that you use in your design. When you create an instance, it inherits all the properties and styles from the master component. Instances can be easily updated to reflect changes made to the master component, ensuring consistency across your design. Instances are particularly useful when you need to use the same component multiple times with slight variations.

To create an instance:

1. Select the component you want to use.
2. Drag the component from the components panel onto your canvas.
3. Adjust the properties of the instance as needed, such as size, color, or state.
4. Instances can be updated globally by modifying the master component, ensuring all instances reflect the changes.

Example: If you have a button component with variants for different sizes and colors, you can create instances of the button in your design. Each instance can be customized to match the specific requirements of your layout.

Examples and Analogies

Think of variants as different outfits for a character in a video game. Each outfit represents a different state or variation of the character, but they all share the same underlying character model. Instances are like specific characters wearing these outfits in different scenes of the game. When you update the character model, all instances of the character in the game reflect the changes.

In a real-world scenario, consider a product catalog with different variations of a product (e.g., colors, sizes). Each variation is a variant of the product, and instances are the specific products displayed in the catalog. When you update the product details, all instances in the catalog are automatically updated.

By mastering the use of variants and instances in Figma, you can create consistent and flexible designs, making the handoff process smoother and more efficient.