Adding a description to your components in Figma provides valuable context and guidance for anyone using your design system or library. It helps teammates understand the purpose, usage guidelines, and behavior of each component, leading to more consistent and efficient designs.
Here's how you can add a description to a main component, component set, or a specific variant in Figma:
Why Component Descriptions Matter
Component descriptions are crucial for effective design systems. They act as inline documentation, making it easier for designers and developers to understand and correctly implement components.
Benefits of Clear Descriptions
- Clarity: Explains the component's purpose and typical use cases.
- Consistency: Provides guidelines on how and when to use the component, reducing variations.
- Discoverability: Helps users find the right component in the Assets panel.
- Onboarding: Speeds up the learning curve for new team members.
Step-by-Step: Adding a Description
Adding a description is a simple process directly within your Figma file.
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Access Your Component Library:
- Open the Figma file where your component library lives.
- Tip: If you are working with an instance of a component in another file, you can easily navigate to the main component in its library file by selecting the instance and choosing "Go to main component in library".
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Select the Component:
- In the component library file, locate and select the specific item you want to describe. This can be:
- A main component (for a single, non-variant component).
- A component set (to describe the set as a whole, useful for overview).
- A specific variant within a component set (to provide details unique to that variant's state or behavior).
- In the component library file, locate and select the specific item you want to describe. This can be:
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Add the Description:
- With the component, set, or variant selected, look at the right-hand panel (Design or Prototype tab).
- Below the component's name field, there is a dedicated section for adding a Description.
- Click into this description field and type your description.
That's it! Your description is now saved with the component.
Where Descriptions Appear
Once added, component descriptions are visible in several places within Figma, making them accessible to users:
- Assets Panel: When hovering over a component in the Assets panel, the description appears as a tooltip.
- Inspect Panel: When a component instance is selected on the canvas, the description is shown in the Inspect panel on the right side, providing developers with usage details.
- Documentation (via plugins/APIs): Descriptions can often be pulled into external documentation sites built using Figma's API or specific plugins.
Best Practices for Descriptions
To make your component descriptions most effective, consider these tips:
- Be Concise: Get straight to the point.
- Explain Purpose: Clearly state what the component is for.
- Include Usage Guidelines: Mention any do's and don'ts or specific contexts where it should be used.
- Mention Accessibility: Note any accessibility considerations.
- Focus on the User: Write descriptions that are helpful to designers and developers who will use the component.
By consistently adding informative descriptions, you significantly enhance the usability and effectiveness of your Figma component library.
