Component library

A component library is the coded set of reusable UI components — buttons, inputs, cards, modals, navigation — that a design system ships to engineering teams. It's typically built in React, Vue or Web Components, fed by design tokens, and documented in Storybook or an equivalent tool.

The library is the most visible artefact of a design system but rarely the whole story: components without foundations, governance and a contribution model decay quickly. Open-source libraries like Material UI, Chakra, Radix and shadcn/ui are useful starting points, but in-house libraries usually win on brand fit and long-term ownership — see our take in the future of design systems.

Related: Design system · Design tokens · Storybook · Component · Atomic design