Naming Conventions

Guidelines and conventions for design system token nomenclature, based on Zeus Design System and industry best practices.

CategoryPatternExamplesUsage
Colors--[semantic-name]
--primary
--secondary
--background
--foreground

Use for component theming and consistent color application

Spacing--[prefix]-space-[scale]
--p-space-0
--p-space-200
--p-space-800

Apply consistent spacing across components and layouts

Typography--[prefix]-font-[property]-[scale]
--s3-font-size-large
--s3-font-weight-heading

Maintain typographic hierarchy and consistency

Borders--[prefix]-border-[property]-[scale]
--p-border-radius-100
--p-border-radius-200

Apply consistent border styling across UI elements

Shadows--shadow-elevation-[level]
--shadow-elevation-01
--shadow-elevation-04

Create visual depth and component layering

Best Practices

  • • Use semantic names over descriptive names
  • • Maintain consistent prefix patterns
  • • Follow numerical scales for sizing
  • • Group related tokens with common prefixes
  • • Document purpose and usage context

Naming Principles

  • Semantic: Focus on purpose, not appearance
  • Scalable: Allow for future expansion
  • Consistent: Follow established patterns
  • Contextual: Include usage information
  • Hierarchical: Use clear parent-child relationships