---
title: "Structure your Figma file for better code"
source: "https://developers.figma.com/docs/figma-mcp-server/structure-figma-file/"
author:
published:
created: 2026-05-13
description: "Here's how you can help provide the best context for your design intent, so the MCP and your AI assistant can generate code that's clear, consistent, and aligned with your system:"
tags:
  - "clippings"
---
Here's how you can help provide the best context for your design intent, so the MCP and your AI assistant can generate code that's clear, consistent, and aligned with your system:

1. **Use components**
	Buttons, cards, inputs, nav items - anything repeated should be a component. This makes reuse possible (especially when paired with Code Connect) and keeps the file cleaner.
2. **Link components to real code using Code Connect**
	This is the #1 way to get consistent component reuse in code. Without it, the model is guessing.
3. **Use Figma variables for tokens**
	Apply variables for spacing, color, radius, and typography.
4. **Use clear, semantic names for layers and components**
	Replace default names (`Frame1268`, `Group5`) with intent-driven ones like `CardContainer`, `ProductImage`, or `CTA_Button`. This helps the model understand what it's working with, and what functionality it should have.
5. **Use Auto Layout**
	Make your design more responsive and communicate layout intent clearly by using Auto layout. It helps avoid absolute positioning and usually results in cleaner, more predictable code.
	> [!-secondary] -secondary
	> note
	> 
	> **Tip:** Resize the frame in Figma to check that it behaves as expected before generating code.
6. **Use annotations**
	This helps convey design intent that's hard to capture from visuals alone, like how something should behave, align, or respond.
7. **Use dev resources (coming soon)**
	Get links to developer resources that are applied to layers in Dev Mode.