Token Generation from Figma

Token generation from Figma extracts design values defined in Figma and transforms them into code-ready token formats. As the dominant design tool for product design, Figma often serves as the visual source of truth for design decisions. Establishing reliable token generation from Figma enables design-to-code workflows that keep implementations synchronized with design intent.

What Is Token Generation from Figma

Token generation from Figma refers to the process of extracting design values from Figma files or Figma’s data systems and converting them into token definitions that development workflows can consume. This includes extracting colors, typography styles, spacing values, and effects from Figma and producing JSON, CSS, or other token formats.

Multiple approaches exist for this extraction: manual export, plugin-based workflows, and API-driven automation. Each approach has different tradeoffs in terms of automation, flexibility, and complexity.

How Token Generation from Figma Works

Plugin-Based Generation

Tokens Studio (formerly Figma Tokens) is the most popular plugin for token generation. It enables:

Token creation directly in Figma with proper naming and organization:

color/
  primitive/
    blue/500: #3B82F6
  semantic/
    action/primary: {color.primitive.blue.500}

Export to JSON format compatible with Style Dictionary and other tools:

{
  "color": {
    "primitive": {
      "blue": {
        "500": { "value": "#3B82F6", "type": "color" }
      }
    }
  }
}

Git synchronization that pushes token changes directly to repositories, creating commits attributable to designers.

Figma Variables

Figma’s native variables feature provides built-in token-like functionality:

Variables defined in Figma can be accessed via the Plugin API or Variables REST API. Third-party tools can extract these variables and convert them to token formats.

Current limitations include fewer supported types than dedicated token plugins and limited reference semantics compared to token-specific tools.

API-Based Generation

Figma’s REST API enables programmatic access to file data:

const response = await fetch(
  `https://api.figma.com/v1/files/${fileKey}`,
  { headers: { 'X-Figma-Token': token } }
);
const file = await response.json();

// Extract styles from file.styles
const colorStyles = Object.values(file.styles)
  .filter(style => style.styleType === 'FILL');

API-based extraction requires custom code to interpret Figma’s data model and transform it into token structures. This approach offers maximum flexibility but requires development effort.

Key Considerations

• Figma data structures do not directly match token conventions
• Naming in Figma must follow conventions that translate to valid token names
• Color values may need format conversion (Figma uses normalized RGB)
• Typography styles bundle multiple properties requiring decomposition
• Spacing values often derive from Auto Layout settings, not explicit tokens
• Synchronization frequency affects freshness versus stability
• Design changes should flow through review before reaching code
• Error handling must address invalid or incomplete Figma data

Common Questions

How should Figma styles map to token structure?

Figma styles and tokens serve similar purposes but organize differently. Mapping requires deliberate decisions about structure translation.

Figma style names often use slashes for hierarchy: Color/Background/Primary. This can map directly to token paths: color.background.primary.

Figma color styles contain fill data:

{
  "fills": [{
    "type": "SOLID",
    "color": { "r": 0.231, "g": 0.510, "b": 0.965, "a": 1 }
  }]
}

Extraction converts to standard formats:

function figmaColorToHex(figmaColor) {
  const r = Math.round(figmaColor.r * 255);
  const g = Math.round(figmaColor.g * 255);
  const b = Math.round(figmaColor.b * 255);
  return `#${r.toString(16).padStart(2, '0')}${g.toString(16).padStart(2, '0')}${b.toString(16).padStart(2, '0')}`;
}

Typography styles require decomposition into individual properties (font family, size, weight, line height) that map to typography token structures.

How should the workflow handle design changes?

Design changes in Figma should flow through controlled processes before affecting code.

Immediate synchronization risks pushing incomplete or experimental changes to development. A branch-based workflow helps:

1. Designer makes changes in Figma
2. Changes sync to a feature branch in the token repository
3. Pull request created for review
4. After approval, changes merge to main
5. Token build pipeline generates outputs

This workflow provides review gates while maintaining the connection between Figma and code.

Scheduled extraction runs extraction at defined intervals (daily, weekly) rather than on every change. This batches changes but may delay important updates.

Manual triggering requires explicit action to extract tokens, providing maximum control at the cost of synchronization effort.

What about values that are not Figma styles?

Not all token values exist as Figma styles. Spacing values, z-index scales, and animation timings often lack direct Figma representation.

Hybrid approaches maintain these values in code while extracting visual tokens from Figma. The token system combines:

• Colors, typography from Figma extraction
• Spacing, motion, elevation from code-maintained sources

Spacing from components extracts spacing values from component Auto Layout settings rather than explicit styles. This requires parsing component structures.

Documentation components in Figma can display token values without making them extractable styles. Design documentation shows spacing scales visually while actual values live in code.

The division should be intentional: Figma serves as source for values designers actively manipulate, code serves as source for values that are more technical or systematic.

Summary

Token generation from Figma establishes the design-to-code connection that keeps implementations aligned with design intent. Plugin-based approaches like Tokens Studio provide accessible workflows, while API-based extraction offers maximum flexibility. Successful generation requires mapping Figma’s data structures to token conventions, handling format conversions, and establishing workflows that include appropriate review gates before changes reach production code.