Design tokens are fundamental design decisions represented as data, essential for design systems. Since the release of the design token specification in 2022, design token tools have rapidly evolved to support modern UI architecture. Organizing design tokens in layers is crucial for scalability and maintainability, with decision tokens guiding style application and component tokens mapping styles to specific UI elements. Salesforce introduced design tokens to streamline design updates, emphasizing cross-disciplinary collaboration and tool integration. Automated design token distribution and file-based scope management enhance consistency and efficiency. Various translation tools like Style Dictionary aid in converting design tokens into platform-specific code formats, facilitating design consistency across multiple platforms and devices.
https://martinfowler.com/articles/design-token-based-ui-architecture.html