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Working with Variables

Variables in Figma design store reusable values that can be applied to all kinds of design properties and prototyping actions. They help save time and effort when building designs, managing design systems, and creating complex prototyping flows.

Use your plugin to interact with variables in Figma, including creating and reading variables. The Plugin API provides methods using the figma.variables global object to interact with variables.

This guide contains the following sections:

note

This guide assumes that you’re familiar with the basics of creating Figma plugins. If you’re new to developing plugins, check out the Build your first plugin course — you can copy and paste the code from this guide into the plugin you build.

Get variable collections and variables

Use one of the following methods to let your plugin get variables and variable collections.

getLocalVariableCollectionsAsync

The figma.variables.getLocalVariableCollectionsAsync method returns all local variable collections in the current file.

Example usage:

const localCollections = await figma.variables.getLocalVariableCollectionsAsync();

getVariableCollectionByIdAsync

The figma.variables.getVariableCollectionByIdAsync method finds a variable collection by ID. If not found or the provided ID is invalid, returns null.

Example usage:

const collection = await figma.variables.getVariableCollectionByIdAsync('VariableCollectionId:257c3beb2/57:13');

getLocalVariablesAsync

The figma.variables.getLocalVariablesAsync method returns all local variables in the current file, optionally filtering by resolved type.

Example usage:

const localVariables = await figma.variables.getLocalVariablesAsync('STRING'); // filters local variables by the 'STRING' type

getVariableByIdAsync

The figma.variables.getVariableByIdAsync method finds a variable by ID. If not found or the provided ID is invalid, returns null.

Example usage:

const variable = await figma.variables.getVariableByIdAsync(variableId);

Create variable collections and variables

Use one of the following methods to create variables or variable collections.

createVariableCollection

To create a variable collection, use the figma.variables.createVariableCollection method.

Example usage:

const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection('Example Collection');

createVariable

To create a variable, use the figma.variables.createVariable method.

Example usage:

const variable = figma.variables.createVariable(
  'ExampleVariableName',
  collection,
  'STRING'
);

This example creates a variable with the name ExampleVariableName of the STRING type. The variable is created inside a collection with the ID 57:13.

Nodes and bound variables

For a variable to apply its value to a node, the variable must be bound to the node. In the context of the Figma user interface, when a variable is applied to a node (for example, if you set a color variable for a stroke on a rectangle), the alias for that variable is captured in the boundVariables property of the node.

You can also use the Plugin API to bind variables to nodes with our helper methods, and the setBoundVariable method that is available for many types of nodes. For a list of the supported nodes, see setBoundVariable.

To use setBoundVariable, you must provide a valid bindable field and the variable that you want to bind to the field. The variable that you're binding must match the data type of the field. For example, the SHAPE_WITH_TEXT node has an opacity property that accepts numbers. In this case, the variable you bind to opacity must be a number variable.

The following example creates a variable collection and variable, and then applies that variable to an example node.

setBoundVariable example
const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection("example-collection")
const widthVariable = figma.variables.createVariable("width-variable", collection, "FLOAT")

const exampleNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync("1:4")

// Simple fields can be bound using setBoundVariable
exampleNode.setBoundVariable("width", widthVariable)

To get the aliases for variables that are bound to a node, use the boundVariables property on nodes.

Get bound variables example
const exampleNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync("1:4")

const exampleNodeVariables = exampleNode.boundVariables

/* Example boundVariables object:
  {
    "strokes": [
      {
        "type": "VARIABLE_ALIAS",
        "id": "VariableID:1:7"
      }
    ]
  }
*/

To unbind or remove a variable from a node, set the bound field to null.

Unbind a variable example
const exampleNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync("1:4")

// Simple fields can be unbound using setBoundVariable and null
exampleNode.setBoundVariable("width", null)

To learn more about binding variables, check out the code samples.

Typography variables

Typography variables are used to control complex type across your Figma files and design systems. You can use typography variables to manage everything from typeface to the spacing between characters and paragraphs.

Variables can be used to control text styling for TextNodes, TextSublayers (substrings of styled text), and TextStyles. Paragraph spacing and indentation cannot be applied to TextSublayers.

The following properties are bindable:

  • fontFamily: Accepts string variables. The value for the variable must correspond to a font name, such as Inter.
  • fontStyle: Accepts string variables. The value for the variable must map to a valid style for the font. The specific style values depend on the font you are using. For example, when fontFamily is Inter, fontStyle can be set to values such as Light, Regular, or Semi Bold, among other styles supported by the font.
  • fontWeight: Accepts number variables. If the number value doesn't correspond to a valid weight for the font, the closest valid weight is used.
  • lineHeight: Accepts number variables.
  • letterSpacing: Accepts number variables.
  • paragraphSpacing: Accepts number variables. Not valid for substrings.
  • paragraphIndent: Accepts number variables. Not valid for substrings.

Apply typography variables

To apply typography variables to a TextNode, use the setBoundVariable method as you would with other variables.

TextNode.setBoundVariable example
const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection("example-collection")
const weightVariable = figma.variables.createVariable("weight-variable", collection, "FLOAT")

const exampleTextNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync("1:4")

// Typography variables can be bound using setBoundVariable
exampleTextNode.setBoundVariable("fontWeight", weightVariable)

To apply typography variables to a substring, use the setRangeBoundVariable method that is available for TextNodes.

TextNode.setRangeBoundVariable example
const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection("example-collection")
const weightVariable = figma.variables.createVariable("weight-variable", collection, "FLOAT")

const exampleTextNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync("1:4")

// Typography variables can be bound to ranges of text with setRangeBoundVariable
exampleTextNode.setRangeBoundVariable(0, 5, "fontWeight", weightVariable)

To apply typography variables to a TextStyle, use the setBoundVariable method, similar to how you bind typography variables to TextNodes.

TextStyle.setBoundVariable example
const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection("example-collection")
const weightVariable = figma.variables.createVariable("weight-variable", collection, "FLOAT")

// Uses the first available local style as an example
const localTextStyles = await figma.getLocalTextStylesAsync()
const exampleTextStyle = localTextStyles[0]

// Typography variables can be bound using setBoundVariable
exampleTextStyle.setBoundVariable("fontWeight", weightVariable)

Get typography variables

To get the aliases for typography variables that are bound to a TextNode, use the boundVariables property of the TextNode.

Get bound typography variables example
const exampleTextNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync("1:4")

const exampleTextNodeVariables = exampleTextNode.boundVariables

To get the typography variables for segments of text, use the TextNode.getStyledTextSegments method with boundVariables.

TextNode.getStyledTextSegments example
const exampleTextNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync("1:4")

exampleTextNode.getStyledTextSegments(['boundVariables'])

/* Example output
[
  {
    characters: "hello",
    start: 0,
    end: 5,
    boundVariables: {
      fontFamily: { type: "VARIABLE_ALIAS", id: "VariableID:1:7" }
    }
  },
  {
    characters: " world",
    start: 5,
    end: 11,
    boundVariables: {
      fontFamily: { type: "VARIABLE_ALIAS", id: "VariableID:2:8" }
    }
  }
]
*/

You can also use the TextNode.getRangeBoundVariable method to get a specific bound variable based on the character range and field (fontWeight, for example).

TextNode.getRangeBoundVariable example
const exampleTextNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync("1:4")

// Get typography variables that are bound to ranges of text with getRangeBoundVariable
exampleTextNode.getRangeBoundVariable(0, 5, "fontWeight")

To get typography variables that are bound to TextStyles, use the boundVariables property of the TextStyle, similar to TextNodes.

Get bound typography variables for TextStyle example
// Uses the first available local style as an example
const localTextStyles = await figma.getLocalTextStylesAsync()
const exampleTextStyle = localTextStyles[0]

const exampleTextStyleVariables = exampleTextStyle.boundVariables

Remove typography variables

To unbind or remove a typography variable, set the bound field to null.

Unbind a typography variable example
const exampleTextNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync("1:4")

// Simple fields can be unbound using setBoundVariable and null
exampleTextNode.setBoundVariable("fontWeight", null)

To learn more about binding typography variables, check out the code samples.

Helpers

The figma.variables global object also provides some helper methods to make certain operations easier.

createVariableAlias

The figma.variables.createVariableAlias method is a helper function to create a variable alias. Variable aliases are used to bind variables to other variables, or to bind variables to various properties on a node or style.

createVariableAliasByIdAsync(variableId)

The figma.variables.createVariableAliasByIdAsync(variableId) method is a helper function that accepts a variable ID and returns an alias that references that variable.

setBoundVariableForPaint

The figma.variables.setBoundVariableForPaint method is a helper function to bind a variable to a SolidPaint.

setBoundVariableForEffect

The figma.variables.setBoundVariableForEffect method is a helper function to bind a variable to an Effect.

setBoundVariableForLayoutGrid

The figma.variables.setBoundVariableForLayoutGrid method is a helper function to bind a variable to a LayoutGrid.

importVariableByKeyAsync

The figma.variables.importVariableByKeyAsync method loads a variable from the team library.

Samples

This section contains some functional plugin samples that use variables.

Example: Authoring a new variable collection

This example creates a new variable collection with two modes, and a color variable that defines a value for each of those two modes.

authoring.js
const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection("new-collection")
collection.renameMode(collection.modes[0].modeId, "light")
const colorVariable = figma.variables.createVariable("color-variable", collection, "COLOR")

// rename our new variable and collection because naming is hard!
colorVariable.name = "text-primary"
collection.name = "semantic colors"

const lightModeId = collection.modes[0].modeId
const darkModeId = collection.addMode("dark")

// Sets the color to #000 in light mode and #fff in dark mode
colorVariable.setValueForMode(lightModeId, {r: 0, g: 0, b: 0})
colorVariable.setValueForMode(darkModeId, {r: 1, g: 1, b: 1})

Example: Determining if a node is bound to a variable

Variables consumed by a given node are enumerated in the boundVariables map.

detect-if-bound.js
const rectangle = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync(rectangleId)
// rectangle.width is a number
if (rectangle.boundVariables['width'] !== undefined) {
  // Width fields can only have one bound variable, but fills and strokes might have multiple.
  const widthVariableId = rectangle.boundVariables['width'].id
  const widthVariable = await figma.variables.getVariableByIdAsync(widthVariableId)

  // At this point we know that `widthVariable` is bound to the `width` property of `rectangle`.
  assert(widthVariable.resolveForConsumer(rectangle).value === rectangle.width)
}

Example: Binding a variable to a node or style

Whether binding to a node or style, the procedure is roughly the same.

binding.js
const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection("new-collection")
const widthVariable = figma.variables.createVariable("width-variable", collection, "FLOAT")
const colorVariable = figma.variables.createVariable("color-variable", collection, "COLOR")

const node = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync(...)

// Simple fields can be bound via setBoundVariable
node.setBoundVariable('width', widthVariable)
const fillsCopy = clone(node.fills)

// Fills and strokes must be set via their immutable arrays
fillsCopy[0] = figma.variables.setBoundVariableForPaint(fillsCopy[0], 'color', colorVariable)
node.fills = fillsCopy

const style = await figma.getStyleByIdAsync(...)
const paintsCopy = clone(style.paints)
paintsCopy[0] = figma.variables.setBoundVariableForPaint(paintsCopy[0], 'color', colorVariable)
style.paints = paintsCopy

// Effects and LayoutGrids must also be set by their immutable arrays
const radiusVariable = figma.variables.createVariable("radius-variable", collection, "FLOAT")
const effectsCopy = clone(node.effects)
effectsCopy[0] = figma.variables.setBoundVariableForEffect(effectsCopy[0], 'radius', radiusVariable)
node.effects = effectsCopy

const countVar = figma.variables.createVariable("count-variable", collection, "FLOAT")
const layoutGridsCopy = clone(node.layoutGrids)
layoutGridsCopy[0] = figma.variables.setBoundVariableForLayoutGrid(layoutGridsCopy[0], 'count', countVar)
node.layoutGrids = layoutGridsCopy

Example: Binding a variable to a variant property

This sample binds a string variable to the variant property on a InstanceNode

code.js
const instanceNode = await figma.getNodeByIdAsync(...);
const stringVariable = await figma.variables.getVariableByIdAsync(...);
node.setProperties({
  "variantPropName":
    figma.variables.createVariableAlias(stringVariable)
})

// To clear
node.setProperties({
  "variantPropName": "Default", // or other string value
})

Example: Binding a variable to a text node

This sample binds a font family variable to text node.

code.js
(async () => {
  // Setup variables
  const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection("new-collection")
  const modeId = collection.modes[0].modeId
  const fontFamilyVar = figma.variables.createVariable("fontFamily", collection, "STRING")
  fontFamilyVar.setValueForMode(modeId, "Roboto")

  // Load necessary fonts
  await figma.loadFontAsync({ family: "Inter", style: "Regular" })  // current font
  await figma.loadFontAsync({ family: "Roboto", style: "Regular" }) // new font

  // Create text node
  const text = figma.createText()
  text.characters = "Hello world!"

  // Apply variables
  text.setBoundVariable("fontFamily", fontFamilyVar)
})()

Example: Binding a variable to a text style

This sample binds a font family variable to a text style.

code.js
(async () => {
  // Setup variables
  const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection("new-collection")
  const modeId = collection.modes[0].modeId
  const fontFamilyVar = figma.variables.createVariable("fontFamily", collection, "STRING")
  fontFamilyVar.setValueForMode(modeId, "Roboto")

  // Load necessary fonts
  await figma.loadFontAsync({ family: "Inter", style: "Regular" })  // current font
  await figma.loadFontAsync({ family: "Roboto", style: "Regular" }) // new font

  // Create style
  const textStyle = figma.createTextStyle()

  // Create text node
  const text = figma.createText()
  text.characters = "Hello world!"
  text.setTextStyleIdAsync(textStyle.id)

  // Apply variables
  textStyle.setBoundVariable("fontFamily", fontFamilyVar)

  console.log(textStyle.boundVariables)
  // Output:
  // {
  //   fontFamily: [{
  //     type: "VARIABLE_ALIAS",
  //     variableId: fontFamilyVar.id
  //   }]
  // }
})()

Example: Binding a variable to a text substring

This example binds font family and font style variables to a substring of text.

code.js
(async () => {
  // Setup variables
  const collection = figma.variables.createVariableCollection("new-collection")
  const modeId = collection.modes[0].modeId
  const fontStyleVar = figma.variables.createVariable("fontFamily", collection, "STRING")
  fontStyleVar.setValueForMode(modeId, "Bold")

  // Load necessary fonts
  await figma.loadFontAsync({ family: "Inter", style: "Regular" }) // current font
  await figma.loadFontAsync({ family: "Inter", style: "Bold" })    // new font

  // Create text node
  const text = figma.createText()
  text.characters = "Hello world!"

  // Apply variables
  text.setRangeBoundVariable(0, 5, "fontStyle", fontStyleVar)

  console.log(text.getRangeBoundVariable(0, 5, "fontStyle"))
  // Output:
  // {
  //   type: "VARIABLE_ALIAS",
  //   variableId: fontStyleVar.id
  // }

  console.log(text.getRangeBoundVariable(0, 6, "fontStyle"))
  // Output:
  // Symbol(figma.mixed)

  console.log(text.getStyledTextSegments(["boundVariables", "fontName"]))
  // Output:
  // [
  //   {
  //     characters: "Hello",
  //     start: 0,
  //     end: 5,
  //     fontName: { family: "Inter", style: "Bold" },
  //     boundVariables: {
  //       fontStyle: { type: "Variable_ALIAS", variableId: fontStyleVar.id }
  //     }
  //   },
  //   {
  //     characters: " world!",
  //     start: 5,
  //     end: 12,
  //     fontName: { family: "Inter", style: "Regular" },
  //     boundVariables: {}
  //   }
  // ]
})()

Example: Extracting variables from fill styles

Sample code to convert existing styles into variables is available on our GitHub.

Example: Import and export variables

Sample code to help import design tokens from other products or export variables into JSON format. This can further help with migration to variables or syncing design with development. Note that this sample only handles basic import/export and developers are encouraged to extend and customize this code to suit their specific needs.

Sample code on our GitHub

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