Design tokens are a platform-agnostic method for visualising and implementing design decisions that impact the presentation of components and other elements within an interface. They typically define how aspects such as colour, spacing, corner radius, typography, and other values are applied across products and platforms.
Tokens are generally organised in different tiers, ranging from basic primitives to semantic tokens, and further extending to more specific applications, such as tokens for individual components. This hierarchical structure allows the token system to maintain a layered approach, based flexibility and consistency.
Design tokens have become a fundamental component of design systems, serving as the backbone for theming and multi-brand design strategies. They enable a unified visual language that can be easily adapted and scaled across different platforms, products, and brands.
