Main Component vs Instance in Figma: Key Differences and Usage

In Figma, a main component is the original design element that defines styles and structure, while an instance is a copy of that component that inherits its properties but can be customized without changing the original. Instances update automatically when the main component changes, enabling consistent and flexible design reuse.

Quick Comparison

Here is a quick side-by-side comparison of main components and instances in Figma.

Aspect	Main Component	Instance
Definition	Original design element defining styles and structure	Copy of the main component inheriting its properties
Edit Impact	Changes affect all instances	Changes affect only this instance unless overridden properties are reset
Customization	Cannot be customized without creating variants or new components	Can override properties like text, colors, and visibility locally
Purpose	Create reusable design elements	Use reusable elements with flexibility in different contexts
Updates	Source of truth for design	Automatically updates when main component changes
Creation	Created once by designer	Created by duplicating or dragging main component

Key Differences

The main component in Figma acts as the master template for a design element. It defines the core styles, layout, and properties that all copies will follow. When you edit the main component, all instances of it update automatically to reflect those changes, ensuring consistency across your design.

An instance is a linked copy of the main component. It inherits all the design properties but allows you to customize certain aspects locally, such as changing text content, colors, or hiding layers. These customizations do not affect the main component or other instances.

In short, the main component is the source of truth, while instances provide flexible reuse. This system helps designers maintain consistency while adapting designs to different needs without duplicating effort.

Main Component Example

This example shows how to create a main component in Figma using the UI.

text

1. Select a design element (e.g., a button).
2. Right-click and choose 'Create Component' or press Ctrl+Alt+K (Cmd+Option+K on Mac).
3. The element becomes a main component, shown with a purple outline.
4. Edit this component to define styles and layout.
5. Drag instances from the Assets panel to reuse it.

Output

A purple-outlined component appears in your design, ready to be reused as instances.

Instance Equivalent

This example shows how to use and customize an instance of a main component.

text

1. Drag the main component from the Assets panel onto the canvas.
2. This creates an instance linked to the main component.
3. Select the instance and change text or colors in the right sidebar.
4. These changes affect only this instance.
5. If the main component updates, the instance updates too, except for overridden properties.

Output

An instance appears on the canvas with customized text or colors, linked to the main component.

When to Use Which

Choose a main component when you want to create a reusable design element that acts as the single source of truth for style and structure. Use it to maintain consistency across your project.

Choose an instance when you want to reuse that design element but need to customize it slightly for different contexts without breaking the link to the main component. Instances save time and keep designs consistent while allowing flexibility.

Key Takeaways

Main components are the original design elements that control styles and structure.

Instances are copies that inherit from main components but allow local customization.

Editing a main component updates all its instances automatically.

Use main components for consistency and instances for flexible reuse.

Instances help save time by avoiding duplicate designs while allowing variations.