Cross-Platform Token Synchronization

Introduction

Cross-platform token synchronization refers to the process of ensuring that design tokens are consistently maintained and available across multiple platforms (web, mobile, etc.). This enables a coherent user experience and design consistency.

What are Design Tokens?

Design tokens are the visual design atoms of the product UI, such as colors, fonts, spacing, etc. They are stored in a format that can be easily used across different platforms and technologies.

Key Components of Design Tokens:

• Color Palette
• Typography
• Spacing
• Elevation and Shadows
• Border Radius

Importance of Synchronization

Synchronizing design tokens across platforms ensures:

1. Consistency in user interfaces
2. Reduced development time by reusing design components
3. Ease of maintenance when design changes are required

Synchronization Process

The following is a step-by-step process for synchronizing design tokens:

graph TD;
    A[Start] --> B{Is token updated?};
    B -- Yes --> C[Update token in the source];
    B -- No --> D[No action needed];
    C --> E[Push updates to all platforms];
    E --> F[Verify token updates];
    F --> G[End];
        

Step-by-Step:

1. Check if any design tokens have been updated.
2. If updated, modify the token in the source file.
3. Push the updated tokens to the relevant platforms.
4. Verify that the updates are reflected correctly.

Best Practices

• Use a version control system to track changes.
• Establish a clear naming convention for tokens.
• Document changes and rationale for updates.
• Regularly audit tokens to ensure relevance and consistency.

FAQ