Component Composition Patterns
Design methodologies for building flexible UI components that can be combined and configured to create diverse interface variations efficiently.
Definition
Component composition patterns establish systematic approaches for creating reusable interface elements that maintain consistency while supporting customization. These patterns define how components accept properties, handle state, and interact with each other.
Effective composition patterns enable design systems to scale across diverse use cases without requiring constant creation of new components, instead leveraging flexible combinations of existing elements.
Why It Matters
Well-designed composition patterns reduce design system maintenance overhead while increasing component utilization across products. Teams can build new features faster using proven, tested component combinations.
Consistent composition patterns improve developer experience and reduce bugs by establishing predictable interfaces for component interaction and customization throughout the organization.
Examples in Practice
Atlassian's design system uses composition patterns to create flexible card components that combine headers, content areas, and actions in various configurations across Jira, Confluence, and Trello.
GitHub's interface components employ composition patterns to build consistent repository views, issue trackers, and pull request interfaces using shared layout and content components.
Dropbox's design system leverages composition patterns to create file browser interfaces that adapt between grid and list views while maintaining consistent interaction patterns.