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Why are design tokens used in scalable design systems?
Asked on Nov 13, 2025
Answer
Design tokens are used in scalable design systems to ensure consistency and maintainability across various platforms and components. They serve as the single source of truth for design decisions, encapsulating styles such as colors, typography, spacing, and other UI elements in a way that can be easily shared and updated across different parts of an application or even multiple applications.
Example Concept: Design tokens abstract design properties into reusable variables, allowing developers to apply consistent styles across different components and platforms. By centralizing these properties, design tokens enable easy updates and scalability, reducing the risk of inconsistencies and simplifying the process of maintaining a cohesive design system.
Additional Comment:
- Design tokens can be stored in JSON, YAML, or other formats that are easily parsed by different platforms.
- They facilitate collaboration between designers and developers by providing a common language for design specifications.
- Tools like Style Dictionary can be used to transform design tokens into various formats for web, iOS, Android, etc.
- Using design tokens helps in achieving a responsive and adaptive design system that can scale efficiently.
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