Transforming Figma Designs to HTML/CSS Format

Other Questions Figma
1

I’m in the process of creating a tool that transforms Figma designs into HTML and CSS. I have successfully set up the API connection, but I’m encountering difficulties with one aspect.

What I have done so far:

  1. I am able to fetch data from a Figma file using my access token and file ID.
  2. I’ve managed to analyze the data to find design components and gather style details to create the CSS.

Where I’m struggling:

I’m unsure how to construct the correct HTML structure from the Figma data. I need guidance on how to organize the UI elements properly and determine the right HTML tags to use.

Example of output I want:

For a dashboard design, I’m looking to generate something that resembles this:

<div class="dashboard">
   <h2>Project Dashboard</h2>
   <div class="details">
      <h5>Client Information</h5>
      <div class="status">
         <ul>
            <li>Current Status: Active</li>
            <li>Last Updated: Today</li>
         </ul>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

I would appreciate any tips on how to approach generating the HTML structure. Thank you!

2

Converting Figma data to proper HTML is all about mapping node types to the right HTML tags. I always check each node’s type and name first. Nodes acting like titles become <h1> or <h2>, while containers turn into <div> or <section>. The layout mode matters too - ‘VERTICAL’ or ‘HORIZONTAL’ tells you how elements should group together. Look at parent-child relationships as well. If a parent has multiple text node children, you’re probably dealing with a list structure. Build a system that considers both visual styles and node hierarchy - you’ll get way more accurate HTML that way.

3

Here’s what clicked for me: treat Figma’s constraints as semantic hints, not just layout rules. When I see text positioned or styled a certain way, I map it to HTML elements based on what it actually represents. Top-level text in a frame? Usually a heading. Grouped text with matching styles? Probably list items or nav elements. The z-index and layer order are huge - they tell you how to nest things properly in HTML. I built a recursive function that walks through Figma’s node tree depth-first, creating HTML based on each node’s properties and how it relates to its siblings and parents. Don’t ignore text styles either. Bold or larger text screams heading, and repeated styling patterns often mean lists or other structured content.

4

the trickiest part? figma’s auto-layout vs absolute positioning. I start by finding frames with auto-layout - they convert to flexbox divs way easier. for semantic html, check the component names first. designers usually name stuff like ‘button’ or ‘card-header’, which tells you what html tag to actually use. and here’s a tip: figma’s fill/stroke properties help you decide between real semantic tags like versus just a styled

.