Issue Summary
I'm experiencing a strange issue related to variables and component instances in Figma. The behavior of variables differs depending on whether they're attached directly to objects or used within components.
Details
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When I attach a variable (string, color, boolean, or number) directly to an object (e.g., text or rectangle) or its properties (e.g., layer visibility), everything works as expected. Updating the variable's value immediately reflects on the object.
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However, when those same objects are part of a component and the values are defined as properties, the component instance does not update when I change the variable values.
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Additionally, behavior becomes inconsistent in the component instance: changing the value of one variable (e.g., a number) can unexpectedly trigger updates to other properties (e.g., string, boolean, or color) — especially if those variables were changed previously, before modifying the triggering variable.
Environment
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The issue started occurring last Thursday (April 3, 2025).
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It affects both the web version and the standalone desktop application.
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The issue also appears in a new Figma Design file.
Steps to Reproduce
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Create variables (string, color, boolean, number).
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Attach the variables directly to objects – updates work correctly.
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Place those objects inside a component and expose them as properties.
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Use the component as an instance.
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Assign variables to the component properties in the instance.
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Change the variable values – the instance does not update reliably.
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Observe unexpected updates in unrelated properties when some variable types (e.g., number) are changed.
Expected Behavior
Component instances should update correctly when the underlying variable values change. Updates to one variable should not affect unrelated properties.