Introduction: Design Isn’t Finished Until It’s Understood
You’ve built beautiful, smart Figma components—but if no one knows how to use them correctly, they’re not delivering value. Whether your teammates are designers, developers, or stakeholders, clear documentation turns your system from a mystery into a shared language.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to document components inside Figma using native tools, best practices, and lightweight systems that scale.
1. Why Component Documentation Matters
Documentation helps your team:
- 🧭 Understand component purpose and behavior
- 🔄 Use and reuse components consistently
- 🤝 Collaborate across design and dev
- 🧪 Avoid misuse and guesswork
- 🛠 Speed up development and reduce bugs
Without it? You’ll see duplicated effort, inconsistent designs, and “custom fixes” everywhere.
2. Where to Document in Figma
There are three places to add docs inside Figma:
| Location | Best For |
|---|---|
| ✅ Component Descriptions | Purpose, behavior, dev notes |
| ✅ Sticky Notes / Annotations | Quick visual guidance, examples |
| ✅ Dedicated Docs Page | Overviews, rules, do/don’ts, usage patterns |
The key is proximity—put docs where people look, not in a separate tool they won’t check.
3. Write Component Descriptions That Help Everyone
Each main component should include:
- ✅ What the component is
- ✅ When to use it (and when not to)
- ✅ What props/variants exist and what they do
- ✅ Behavior under certain conditions (resizing, dark mode, etc.)
- ✅ Links to code or usage examples if needed
📄 Example:
🧱 Component: Button
- Use for primary actions
- Variants: Size (sm/md/lg), State (default/hover/disabled), Icon (left/right)
- Auto Layout adapts to label length
- Uses color.token.button.primary.bg
- Dev: See /components/Button.tsx
🎯 Keep it short but specific.
4. Use Visual Annotation and Examples
You can add:
- 🟨 Sticky notes for quick tips (e.g. “Use this variant for modals”)
- 🟢 Highlight rectangles with labels like “Error state” or “Do not detach”
- 🟣 Text blocks that show usage in context (especially helpful in patterns/templates)
💡 Use Figma’s section titles and labels to organize components visually.
5. Build a “Documentation” Page in Your Library
Set aside a full page for:
- Component overview charts
- Naming conventions
- Do vs Don’t examples
- Usage flows
- Platform or brand-specific notes
This gives your team a bird’s eye view of how to use (and not misuse) each part of the system.
📁 Label the page clearly (📖 Documentation, 💬 Usage Guide, or README).
6. Document Component Properties Clearly
If your component has:
- ✅ Boolean switches (e.g. hasIcon)
- ✅ Instance swaps (e.g. replace icon)
- ✅ Text or number props
…you should explain them:
🧩 Use the component description field, or add a side note like:
Props:
- hasIcon (Boolean): Toggles icon visibility
- iconLeft (Instance): Replace with any 16px icon
- label (Text): Button text
🔄 This reduces the time devs and other designers spend guessing how your system works.
7. Link to Dev Code or Storybook
For advanced systems, link to:
- GitHub components
- Storybook/Chromatic pages
- Documentation sites
Paste the link directly in the component description or Dev Mode panel.
🔗 Example:
arduino Docs: https://storybook.company.com/components/button
Code: https://github.com/org/repo/components/Button.tsx
Make it easy for devs to go from spec → codebase.
8. Bonus: Add Sample Screenshots or GIFs
If a component behaves in a complex way (e.g. accordion opens, dropdown positions), add a small frame or note showing the interaction.
🎞️ For extra clarity, embed a Loom or Lottie demo in your design docs (or link to one).
Conclusion: Make Your Components Self-Explaining
Documentation isn’t about adding clutter. It’s about adding clarity—so your design system scales with your team. Well-documented components are easier to use, easier to trust, and easier to build with.
Next up: “How to Use Interactive Components in Figma to Show UI States” — a deep dive into hover, click, toggle, and smart previews.
Designilo 