Why It Matters
Nested instances enable component composition—building complex components from simpler ones. A Modal component might contain nested Button instances and Icon instances. When you update the Button main component, all buttons inside all modals update automatically. This creates powerful cascading updates across your design system.
Examples
A form component containing nested Input, Label, and Button instances.
A card component with nested Avatar and Badge instances in the header.
A data table row built from nested Cell, Checkbox, and IconButton instances.
Related Terms
Instance
A linked copy of a main component that inherits its properties and automatically updates when the main component changes.
Main Component
The original, source component that defines the structure, styles, and behavior that all its instances inherit.
Slot
A designated area within a component where content can be swapped or overridden in instances, enabling flexible content composition while maintaining structure.
Component Set
A group of related component variants combined into a single component with configurable properties, allowing users to switch between variants without swapping components.
Boolean Property
A component property that toggles between true/false states, often used to show/hide elements or enable/disable features within a component.
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