What are Constraints in Figma?
Learn how constraints control how elements resize across frames and devices.
Intro (short definition)
Constraints in Figma define how elements behave when their parent frame is resized. They let you “pin” objects to the left, right, center, top, or bottom, and decide whether they stretch or stay fixed.
Deep Dive (how they work + why they matter)
Constraints are the foundation of responsive design in Figma. For example, you can set a button to stay pinned to the bottom of a frame, or make a card stretch as the screen gets wider. Without constraints, you’d be stuck manually adjusting elements for every screen size.
Constraints work best when combined with Auto Layout and Responsive Design. Together, they let you build interfaces that automatically adapt across desktop, tablet, and mobile without needing multiple versions. Constraints also connect naturally to Components, since reusable elements need to resize correctly in different layouts.
Clients often ask why buttons or cards don’t stay in place when resizing frames. Constraints fix this, which is why they’re essential for responsive SaaS apps, landing pages, and even email layouts.
Use Cases (practical examples)
Pinning navigation bars to the top of a frame
Keeping buttons fixed to the bottom of mobile screens
Making images stretch to fill available space
Designing responsive cards that scale across breakpoints
