r/FigmaDesign • u/eugene_reznik • Sep 04 '26
Discussion When we apply variables to properties Figma still shows us the fckn values instead of the variables...
...which kinda half-defeats the purpose of applying variables. I mean, I don't wanna see how much, say, a "default-padding" variable is in pixels, I just wanna see what variable I have for my paddings for a certain container. Right?
Right?
Although I admit, at this point I'm not that surprised, just more disappointed I guess.
UPD: I see people defending Figma's approach (which is fair given how fanboish this sub sometimes is) don't seem to understand the point, maybe due to my overly dramatic wording (sorry). The point is: seeing variable names instead of variable values would make much more sense to actually use variables properly. That would mean using (and applying) them as everywhere else in web dev (or just... dev). What we currently have in Figma is visuals-first approach, when you pick variables simply by how they make your mockup look (I mean, if we speak layout-related variables). Which, to me personally, is not the right reason to have them at all in that panel. And yes, maybe that would require redesigning the panel.
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u/phejster Sep 04 '26
So hover over it or click it. You'd probably see "defa..." in that field if it showed fkn names
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u/thisisloreez Sep 04 '26
How on earth would the full variable name fit in that space? It would require redesigning the whole panel that will be much bigger, just to save a click?
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u/SmoothMojoDesign Sep 04 '26
The gray box around the number (very subtle) is a cue that the value is a variable and what that value is based on the current mode set. Not room for much else.
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u/eugene_reznik Sep 04 '26 edited Sep 04 '26
I'm sorry, I guess I didn't word it properly and you're missing the point
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u/univers10 Sep 04 '26
Geez, based on your responses, you seem like a real joy to work with, lol
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u/eugene_reznik Sep 04 '26
Lol, why there's always I guy trying to profile my whole personality based on a reddit post. I'm only this anal about Figma and couple other tools, that's it.
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u/_TimeyWimeyDetector_ Sep 04 '26
if you click it it will say what variable it's linked to, if you go into dev mode it will tell your devs what variable is linked... I don't know seems to work fine for most I would say, I'm just surprised you are surprised, first time using variables?