What's the difference between a design system / style guide and pattern library?
These terms are related but distinct:
A style guide defines your visual language—like brand colors, typography, and usage rules. It's usually static and focused on aesthetics.
A pattern library (or component library) is a collection of reusable UI elements, like nav bars, buttons, or forms, designed for consistency.
A design system is the complete framework. It includes the style guide and pattern library, plus coded components, usage documentation, accessibility guidelines, and more.
In short, a design system unifies design and development—it's the full toolkit for building consistent, scalable products.
Similar questions
When should designers use the Liquid Glass Regular vs. Clear variants?
What should a design system include?
What are design tokens?
How do I maintain a design system as it grows?
Should I use an existing design system or build my own?
How can designers and developers collaborate through a design system?
How can I get my team to adopt a design system?
What tools can I use to build a design system?
What is atomic design and how does it relate to design systems?
How do I document a design system effectively?
What are common mistakes to avoid when creating a design system?
Do small teams need a design system?
How do I incorporate accessibility into my design system?
What’s the difference between style tokens and design tokens?
How do you document interaction patterns in a design system?
What is the role of a design token framework?
How do you handle dark mode in a design system?
Why are spacing tokens important in design systems?
What’s the difference between atomic design and design systems?
How do you evaluate a design system’s effectiveness?