Understanding the difference between Frames and Groups in Figma can enhance your design workflow. Frames offer advanced features like layout grids and responsive resizing, ideal for complex designs. Groups are perfect for quickly bundling elements together. This article explores the key differences between Frames and Groups in Figma, helping you choose the right tool for your projects.

Groups vs Frames

What is Figma?

Figma is an online design tool that lets you create and share designs easily. It’s great for making things like websites, apps, and graphics. You can work on your designs with others in real-time, which means everyone can see changes as they happen. Figma is simple to use and works on any computer with an internet connection. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, Figma helps you bring your ideas to life.

To learn more about Figma Interface: Figma Interface | A Beginner’s Guide

What are Frames in Figma?

Frames are the foundation functional unit of a UX design. You might have heard about wireframes in UX design indeed a very popular term. The main task is to get elements together.

How to Create Frames in Figma?

You can simply create a frame by following any of the steps below:

Method 1:

1. Select the frame tool on the top panel or press F, and click on the desired device size from side panel

Frame Option

2. Select a frame size according to your preference.

Frame Sizes

Method 2:

Select the frame tool or press F and drag the cursor to extent of the desired size of the frame

Creating a Frame

Benefits of Frames

The advancements are listed below:

• Constraints
• Clip content
• Auto layout

Constraints:

The elements of a frame can be restricted to the desired area. This makes the wireframe systematic. When the frame is resized the elements with the respective constraints appear to be in the same state and location as the constraints entered.

Clip Content:

Even the elements are out of bound of the frame, the clip content feature retains the size and position of the elements and cut them out of the reduced area. These can be recovered when the size of the frame is increased again.

Auto Layout:

Dynamicity of the elements is handled when frame is converted into auto layout.

Limitations of Frames

• Unwanted default constraints for every element in the frame.
• Cannot have the frame to resize based on the position and size inner objects.

What are Groups in Figma?

Grouping feature in Figma allows the designer to group elements which move and scale in similar manner. A group is created with elements in it and is totally dependent on them. Resizing of boundary elements affects the size of the group.

How to create groups in Figma?

You can simply create a group by following the steps below:

Step 1. Select the elements.

Selecting the required objects by either dragging the mouse or by holding shift and clicking objects.

Elements selected to be Grouped together

Step 2. Group the elements.

Press Ctrl + G or right click on the group and select the option group elements.

Selection options

Command:

⇒ Ctrl + G (Windows)

⇒ ⌘ + G (Mac)

Benefits of Groups

• Allows to group multiple elements in a single layer.
• All the properties of a group including position and respective constraints applied in the frame change in the same pattern.

Limitations of Groups

• Dependency of group on the elements inside.
• Clip content being very important cannot be used in case of groups.

How to Choose Groups and Frames in Figma?

When to use groups:

1. If you want to make changes in the properties of a large number of elements having similar characteristics.

For Example:

1) A group can be created by grouping the Buy Now and Learn More buttons of the web page as they show similarities in position

Group

2) A features image and respective feature always lie in the same layer in a web page irrespective of device and can be grouped

2. If you want the parent group to change its size based on the child elements.

For Example:

1) The social media options to share experience of web page there are a couple of apps suggested, if one more is added then group extends in size. In contrast if one app is removed then group shrinks to the next boundary element

3. If multiple elements are having same properties

For Example:

1) In the above example as shown that the feature image and feature are in one group. Such many features can also be grouped together

When to use Frames:

1. Many elements are to be stored without distortion of allocated frame boundary (clip content)

For Example:

Text used is Lorem Ipsum

In the above video it is clearly seen even after the child being larger than the frame, the frame doesn’t change its size

2. The the location of certain elements is to be fixed within a frame irrespective its movements (Constraints)

For Example:

Name is used only for testing purpose

The top task bar with navigation of web page and logo should always remain at the top of the page irrespective of change in layout and should extend wide right and left when layout size is increased horizontally without distorting the size and shape of icons.

This is achieved by constraints

Types of Constraints in Figma:

1. Vertical

1. Left
2. Right
3. Left and Right
4. Center
5. Scale

Constraints in Figma

2. Horizontal

1. Top
2. Bottom
3. Top and Bottom
4. Center
5. Scale

3. Dynamicity of the elements in UX design (Auto layout)

Example of Auto layout:

Auto Layout Example

Conclusion

In advanced UX designing frames are mostly used as there is freedom of resizing boundaries and pin pointing the elements. Additionally frames can also be used as groups. Still groups hold a worthy place while designing a layout. Sometimes unnecessary many nested frames can cause confusion and working speed of the designer may get degraded. Both the aspects are available in Figma and hold their respective tasks and importance.