Using Framer’s default props control

Why You Should Use Framer's Default Property Controls

When creating components in Framer, providing an intuitive user experience is critical. Framer's built-in property controls and default props offer a robust and seamless solution, enhancing collaboration between designers and developers.

What Are Default Props?

Default props define the initial state of your component's properties, ensuring your component renders reliably even before any user customization occurs. These defaults help prevent runtime errors and ensure a smooth design experience.

Advantages of Using Default Props in Framer

1. Simplifies Collaboration

Framer's default props ensure consistency across components. Designers and developers can quickly create component instances without confusion about necessary values or initial settings.

2. Improves Component Stability

Setting default props prevents potential rendering errors, making your components more stable and less prone to breaking as they're added to the canvas.

3. Enhances Flexibility

Framer offers a wide array of control types, such as ControlType.String, ControlType.Color, and ControlType.Boolean. Using these predefined controls ensures that designers have flexible yet standardized options to manipulate components directly from the canvas.

Here's a simple example:

import { addPropertyControls, ControlType } from "framer"

export function MyComponent(props) {
  return <div>{props.text}</div>
}

MyComponent.defaultProps = {
  text: "Hello World!",
}

addPropertyControls(MyComponent, {
  text: {
    type: ControlType.String,
    title: "Text",
    defaultValue: "Hello World!",
  },
})

5. Clear Documentation and User Guidance

Framer allows you to provide detailed descriptions within property controls. Designers benefit from clear, contextual information in the properties panel—facilitating more informed choices.

6. Better Performance

Using default props reduces errors and unnecessary component re-renders during development, thus contributing to a smoother canvas experience.

Leveraging Framer's default property controls and props significantly enhances efficiency, usability, and clarity. It's a best practice that benefits both your design workflow and your end-users, making your projects more robust and maintainable.