Design Tokens vs Inline Styling

Developers should learn and use design tokens when building or maintaining design systems, especially in large-scale applications or multi-platform projects where visual consistency is critical meets developers should use inline styling for rapid prototyping, small projects, or when applying dynamic styles based on javascript logic, such as in react components where styles change with state. Here's our take.

Design Tokens

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use design tokens when building or maintaining design systems, especially in large-scale applications or multi-platform projects where visual consistency is critical

Pros

• They are essential for teams adopting a design system approach, as they reduce manual updates, prevent inconsistencies, and streamline collaboration between design and engineering
• Related to: design-systems, css-variables

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Inline Styling

Developers should use inline styling for rapid prototyping, small projects, or when applying dynamic styles based on JavaScript logic, such as in React components where styles change with state

Pros

• It's also useful for overriding specific styles in a pinch without modifying global CSS
• Related to: css, html

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Design Tokens if: You want they are essential for teams adopting a design system approach, as they reduce manual updates, prevent inconsistencies, and streamline collaboration between design and engineering and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Inline Styling if: You prioritize it's also useful for overriding specific styles in a pinch without modifying global css over what Design Tokens offers.

The Bottom Line

Design Tokens wins

Developers should learn and use design tokens when building or maintaining design systems, especially in large-scale applications or multi-platform projects where visual consistency is critical