Union in Figma: What It Is and How to Use It

In Figma, Union is a boolean operation that combines two or more shapes into a single shape by merging their areas. It removes overlapping lines and creates one continuous shape that you can style and edit as one object.

How It Works

Union in Figma works like combining puzzle pieces to form one bigger piece. When you select multiple shapes and apply the Union operation, Figma merges their outlines and fills, removing any overlapping edges. This means the shapes become one single shape instead of separate objects.

Think of it like mixing colors of clay: when you press two clay balls together, they become one solid ball. Similarly, union merges shapes so you can move, resize, or style them as a single unit. This helps keep your design clean and organized.

Example

This example shows how two circles can be combined using the union operation in Figma.

svg

<!-- Figma does not use code but here is a conceptual SVG example -->
<svg width="120" height="60" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
  <circle cx="40" cy="30" r="25" fill="blue" />
  <circle cx="80" cy="30" r="25" fill="blue" />
  <!-- Union merges these two circles into one shape -->
  <path d="M15,30 a25,25 0 1,0 50,0 a25,25 0 1,0 -50,0" fill="blue" />
</svg>

Output

A single blue shape that looks like two overlapping circles merged into one continuous shape.

When to Use

Use union when you want to combine multiple shapes into one to simplify your design. This is helpful when creating complex icons, logos, or illustrations that need to be treated as a single object.

For example, if you design a button with overlapping shapes, union lets you merge them so you can apply a single color or effect. It also helps reduce clutter in your layers panel by grouping shapes logically.

Key Points

• Union merges multiple shapes into one continuous shape.
• It removes overlapping edges and combines fills.
• Allows styling and editing as a single object.
• Useful for simplifying complex designs and icons.
• Can be undone or edited later by separating the union.

Key Takeaways

Union in Figma merges multiple shapes into one single shape.

It removes overlapping lines and combines fills for a clean design.

Use union to simplify complex shapes and manage layers better.

You can style and move the unioned shape as one object.

Union can be reversed if you need to edit individual shapes later.