TLDR Design · OPINIONS & TUTORIALS
COMPOSITE VS SIMPLE TOKENS
Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter
In design systems, composite tokens group multiple simple tokens to define complex elements like typography styles, shadows, and borders. They enhance consistency, simplify maintenance, and ensure updates propagate system-wide. Unlike simple tokens, composite tokens encapsulate higher-level concepts and depend on atomic values. They exist at semantic or component-specific tiers within a design system.