Component Creation and Editing Mode in Framer

Among the many visual website builders available, Framer stands out for its highly flexible component creation capabilities. Unlike other platforms that largely rely on preset system components and limit creative freedom, Framer gives designers the space to build front-end interactive components from scratch. This "customization-first" approach not only enhances design flexibility but also opens up broader creative possibilities for users with a basic understanding of front-end development.

This article is tailored for users who are new to Framer or designers who have not yet tried building their own components. It offers a clear and practical guide to understanding component structures, creation processes, and the permissions associated with different component types—ultimately enabling you to embrace the concept of “design as functionality.” By the end of this article, you’ll be able to independently create your own Framer component, free from reliance on templates or pre-packaged modules, and embark on a more liberated design journey.

Two Ways to Create Components in Framer

In Framer, creating components is one of the core operations for building a modular page structure. Whether it's for reusing interface elements or improving project maintainability, componentization plays a crucial role. Framer offers two convenient methods for creating components, allowing users to choose the approach that best fits their workflow.

1 Method 1: Convert a Frame into a Component

This is the most common and intuitive way to create a component. You can start by designing a Frame on the canvas, adding elements such as text, images, buttons, or layer groups as needed. Once your design is complete, simply right-click the Frame and select “Create Component” to convert it into a component. After the conversion, you’ll immediately notice several changes:

• The original Frame will be converted into a component structure in the Layers panel, with its icon updated accordingly.

• The newly created component will automatically appear in the Assets panel under the Components section, making it easy to reuse in other pages or locations.

• To use this component in your project, simply drag it from the Assets panel onto the canvas — allowing you to reuse the same structure and styles multiple times.

This method is ideal when you've completed the initial design of a visual module and want to quickly package it into a reusable component.

2 Method 2: Create a Component from the Assets Panel

Another approach is to start directly from the Assets panel. By clicking the “+” icon in the Components section, you can create a new empty component. Framer will automatically generate a component container and switch to its editing mode, allowing you to freely add content.

This method is ideal for users who prefer to define the component structure first and then fill in the details. It offers greater flexibility, especially when building complex components such as UI modules with state switching, variable control, or interaction logic.

3 Naming Tips When Creating Components: Follow Semantics and Conventions

No matter which method you use to create components, naming is critically important. Framer officially recommends using clear and semantic names such as HeaderNav, ProductCard, or FooterLinks. This not only facilitates team collaboration but also helps quickly identify the purpose and structure of each component in large-scale projects, avoiding confusion and duplication.

Framer’s component creation system is highly flexible—you can start by designing concrete elements and then gradually package them, or you can first plan the structure and refine the content later. Each approach suits different scenarios. As long as you understand the basic process and follow naming and organizational conventions, you’ll be able to build front-end visual modules that are both highly maintainable and reusable, enhancing the overall efficiency and consistency of your website design.

If this is your first time working with Framer’s component system, try both methods yourself to experience the freedom of design and development convenience that Framer offers.

Component Types Not Supported by Framer and Possible Solutions

Although Framer allows designers to quickly package most canvas content into components, you may find during regular use that some native component types cannot be directly converted into new components. When attempting to select these elements individually for packaging, the “Create Component” option does not appear in the context menu.

1 Image is a Special Exception

Among all native elements in Framer, the Image is an exception. Although it can be individually selected and directly created as a new component, its behavior and performance differ from regular components:

• In the Layers panel, the Image icon is not the typical component symbol, indicating that it is not encapsulated as a component within the system.

• Although it can be packaged as a component, it does not inherently possess the structural characteristics of a component.

• The Image is more like a static resource container, and Framer has reserved a special handling path for it.

2 Proper Way to Nest Native Components

For other native elements such as Video, Button, etc., if you try to select them individually and create a component, you will notice that the context menu does not offer that option. This is because Framer requires a certain structural minimum for components—they must have a parent container to ensure the component has layout and management capabilities. To address this, here are two recommended approaches:

1). Method 1: Embed Inside a Frame Before Packaging

1. Create a new Frame;

2. Drag the native components (such as Dot Lottie or Video) into that Frame;

3. Perform the "Create Component" action on the entire Frame.

This method essentially provides a wrapping container for the native component, allowing it to meet the structural requirements for component packaging.

2). Method 2: Create a New Component from Assets and Then Add Elements

1. Open the Assets panel and click the “+” in the Components section to create a new component;

2. Enter the component editing mode;

3. Add the required native component elements inside this component and arrange them with layout and interaction settings.

This method is more flexible and is suitable for scenarios where you want to design the component structure first before deciding on the specific content. It also helps avoid the distractions caused by repetitive actions on the canvas.

3 Tip: Structural Awareness in Framer Component Construction

Although Framer’s component system is easy to use, it is built on a certain structural logic: a component should represent a meaningful functional unit with configurability and manageability. Single native elements lack these characteristics and therefore are not supported for direct conversion into components, based on this very principle.

When building components, it is always recommended to use a Frame as the container to organize layers and interactive content before packaging it as a component. This approach not only prevents structural anomalies but also facilitates advanced operations like variable binding and state management later on.

How to Detach Components (Revert Components to Elements) and Their Use Cases

In Framer, component-based workflows can significantly improve design efficiency. However, in certain situations, you may need to “detach” a component and revert it back to a regular Frame element to freely edit or rearrange its structure. This section will explain how to detach components and describe scenarios where detaching is appropriate.

1 What Does “Detaching a Component” Mean?

In Framer, components are added to the canvas by default as “instances.” A component instance inherits all styles and structure from the original component but cannot freely edit its internal layers in the default state. If you want to break this restriction and modify the component’s content, you need to revert it from a “component instance” back to a regular element structure. This process is called “Detach Instance.”

1). Steps to Detach a Framer Component: How to Revert a Component Back to a Frame?

Detaching a component is very simple and involves just a few steps:

1. Select the component instance you want to revert on the canvas or in the Layers panel;

2. Right-click the component;

3. Choose Detach Instance from the context menu;

4. The component will then automatically revert to a regular Frame, with its internal layers visible again and freely editable.

After completing the detaching process, you will notice that:

1. The original component structure is no longer restricted by the component template;

2. The icon in the Layers panel no longer shows as a component instance;

3. You can independently modify, rename, or add interactions to each individual layer.

2 Use Cases: When Should You Detach a Component?

Detaching is suitable for the following typical scenarios:

• Partial Customization: You want to make special modifications to a specific component instance without affecting other parts using the same component.

• Learning and Reference: Beginners can detach components to inspect their internal structure and learn how they are built and organized.

• Component Redevelopment: You are unsatisfied with the existing component structure and plan to rebuild it based on the visual aspects of the old component.

3 Note: Detached Components No Longer Stay in Sync

Please note that once a component is detached, it will no longer stay in sync with the original component. This means:

• Updates to the original component will not affect the detached content;

• The detached elements become completely independent, and if you want to reuse them later, you will need to repackage them as a new component.

Therefore, before detaching, be sure to confirm whether the current instance truly needs to be separated from the unified management logic to avoid increasing project maintenance complexity.

Framer “Detach Instance” feature provides flexibility for modifying components. When standard component instances cannot meet specific page requirements, detaching allows designers full control over the component’s structure. However, it also means losing the benefits of centralized management, so its use should be carefully weighed based on the actual situation.

Entering and Exiting the Framer Component Editing Mode

Creating a component is just the first step; further refinement and logic setup often require entering the component’s editing mode. In Framer, whether you create a component through the Assets panel or the Layers panel, you can easily enter the editing mode to further configure its internal structure, interaction logic, or variables.

1 How to Enter the Component Editing Mode

1). Method 1: Creating a Component from the Assets Panel (Automatic Entry)

When you click the “+” button in the Assets > Components section to create a new component, Framer will automatically switch to the component’s editing mode after creation, with no extra steps needed. This method is especially suitable for users who prefer to build components gradually starting from the structure.

2). Method 2: Enter Editing Mode from a Component on the Canvas

If you created a component by selecting a Frame in the Layers panel, you need to manually enter the editing mode. There are two common ways to do this:

(1). Right-click menu method to enter the component editing mode:

• Select the component instance on the canvas;

• Right-click and choose Edit;

• The system will navigate to the component’s dedicated editing page.

(2). Enter the component editing mode by clicking the “Edit Component” button in the right-side properties panel:

• After selecting the component, locate the Edit Component button in the properties panel on the right;

• Clicking it will also take you to the component’s editing interface.

Once inside the component editing mode, you can adjust layers, add native components, add variables, set interactions, and more—just like working on a regular page. This editing interface is an independent workspace that allows you to focus on editing the component’s structure without affecting the main page view.

2 How to Exit the Component Editing Mode

Framer provides a clear multi-tab workspace structure for the component editing interface. After you enter the component editing mode, two or more page tabs will appear at the top of the canvas:

• The current component’s tab (e.g., Button Component)

• The original page’s tab (e.g., Homepage, Product Detail, etc.)

Exiting the component editing mode is very simple:

• Click the page tab at the top to return to the original page;

• No need to save manually—Framer automatically saves all your changes made in the component editing mode;

By mastering how to enter and exit Framer component editing mode, you can work more flexibly with modular development and reuse management in your projects. Components are not closed structures; they are dynamic systems that can be accessed, modified, and optimized at any time. This is the essence of Framer flexible and powerful design philosophy.

Conclusion

Through this article, you should now have a clear understanding of the two methods to create components in Framer, the types of elements that cannot be directly converted into components and their solutions, as well as key processes such as component editing and detaching. This knowledge will not only help you build page structures more efficiently but also enhance the modularity and maintainability of your projects.

Framer component system is the core that connects design and functionality. Mastering its underlying logic flexibly will make your designs more scalable and interactive. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, we hope this content opens up a more systematic approach to building with Framer.

If you are looking for professional Framer website design and component development services, feel free to contact Jane Framer Studio — we focus exclusively on Framer, creating high-quality websites that combine visual appeal with functional logic for brands.