Cards

Flexible containers that group related content and actions for scannable, organized interfaces.

Edit this file
Purpose of Cards
Understanding the core purpose and benefits of card components in user interfaces.

Content Grouping

Organize related information and actions into cohesive, scannable units.

Preview Gateway

Provide content previews that lead to detailed views without losing context.

Visual Hierarchy

Create clear content boundaries and establish visual order in complex layouts.

Core Functions

Information Display:

Present content in digestible, scannable chunks with clear visual hierarchy

Action Containers:

Group related actions and controls with their associated content

Navigation Aids:

Facilitate content discovery and provide clear pathways to detailed information

Layout Structure:

Enable flexible, responsive layouts that adapt to different screen sizes

When to Use Cards
Understanding the appropriate contexts for card components.
Use Cards When:
  • • Displaying collections of content
  • • Creating product/content previews
  • • Grouping mixed content types
  • • Building dashboard widgets
  • • Showing user profiles or team members
  • • Presenting feature comparisons
Avoid Cards When:
  • • Content is better in lists
  • • Information is purely textual
  • • Space is very limited
  • • Simple data tables suffice
  • • Linear reading flow is preferred
  • • Single-purpose interfaces

Card vs Alternatives

Card vs List Items:

Use cards for rich, mixed content with actions. Use list items for uniform, text-heavy content in linear sequences.

Card vs Modal/Dialog:

Use cards for contextual information display. Use modals for focused tasks that require user attention.

Card vs Sidebar/Panel:

Use cards for content discovery and browsing. Use sidebars for navigation, tools, or persistent secondary content.

ContentInformation Display
Cards for presenting content, media, and information in an organized way
Design System Guide
Learn the fundamentals of creating scalable design systems.
Dec 15, 2024

Best for:

  • • Blog posts and articles
  • • Media galleries
  • • Product showcases
  • • Feature highlights
ActionInteractive Widgets
Cards with controls, metrics, and interactive elements for user engagement
Total Revenue
+12.5%
$45,231.89

+20.1% from last month

Best for:

  • • Dashboard metrics
  • • Control panels
  • • User actions
  • • Status displays
Card vs Alternatives Comparison
Understanding when to use cards over other layout components
ComponentContent TypeLayoutInteractionUse Case
CardMixed content✅ Flexible grid✅ Multiple actionsContent discovery, dashboards
List ItemUniform data📱 Linear stack✅ Single actionData tables, navigation
TileSimple content✅ Grid layout🔘 Single actionApp launchers, categories
PanelComplex content📋 Fixed position✅ Multiple actionsSidebars, detailed views
Design Principles
Core principles for effective card design and user experience

Visual Hierarchy

Establish clear content priority with consistent typography, spacing, and visual emphasis.

Scannable Content

Structure content for quick scanning with clear headings, summaries, and action points.

Consistent Layout

Maintain consistent patterns for similar content types and predictable action placement.