What is Prototyping in Figma?
Learn how to turn static screens into interactive, clickable prototypes.
Intro (short definition)
Prototyping in Figma lets you connect your designs together to simulate real user flows. Instead of showing flat images, you can create clickable prototypes that demonstrate how a product will behave — from navigation to animations.
Deep Dive (how it works + why it matters)
With prototyping, you can link frames together, add transitions, and use Smart Animate to show smooth interactions. This makes it easier to explain your ideas to stakeholders and test with users before writing any code. Prototypes can include hover states, overlays, and even interactive components, giving a realistic feel to your design.
Prototyping becomes even more powerful when combined with Components and Variables. You can create reusable elements that stay consistent while also being interactive. And with Auto Layout, your prototypes feel truly responsive as layouts adjust to different screen sizes.
If you’re preparing an MVP demo for investors or user testing, prototyping lets you show clickable flows without code — a common request from founders working on onboarding workflows.
Use Cases (practical examples)
Building clickable prototypes for mobile apps and websites
Testing navigation flows before development
Using overlays for menus, modals, or tooltips
Demonstrating responsive layouts in action with Auto Layout
