Design Pattern
A documented solution for a recurring design problem. Patterns tell you when to use a dropdown versus a radio group, how to handle empty states, and how forms should behave.
Components tell you what things look like. Patterns tell you when and how to use them. A dropdown component does not tell you when to use a dropdown versus a segmented control. That decision is a pattern. The patterns to document first: form layouts, navigation models, empty states, loading states, and error handling. These five cover the majority of inconsistency problems in product design.
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Related Terms
Component Library
A collection of reusable UI elements (buttons, inputs, cards, modals) built from design tokens and documented with usage guidelines. One layer of a design system, not the whole thing.
Design Governance
The ownership structure, decision-making process, and contribution model that determines how a design system evolves. The most common reason design systems fail.