Figma Rolls Out Accessibility Tokens for Component Libraries

Design · 5 min read

Figma has introduced accessibility tokens as a first-class element in component libraries, allowing teams to attach semantic accessibility metadata to components and styles. Tokens can represent intent rather than raw values, so a primary button can reference token names like high-contrast-foreground instead of a hex color. This makes it easier to switch themes, test contrast, and keep accessibility considerations consistent across products.

The tokens also include device- and context-aware variants, like prefers-reduced-motion and screen-reader-label hints, which designers can toggle globally or at the component level. Figma's token interface includes a new accessibility panel that surfaces automated checks and explains the impact of each token for engineers and content creators. The company says the aim is to reduce misunderstanding between design intent and front-end implementation.

Early adopters report faster accessibility audits and fewer regressions during handoffs. Design system teams can now export tokens as JSON or CSS variables with accessibility metadata preserved, simplifying integration into both native and web stacks. For teams still building token taxonomies, Figma has published example schemas optimized for enterprise-scale libraries.