Framer
Framer is a design and website-publishing platform that lets teams build interactive prototypes and production-ready websites visually, without necessarily writing code.
Definition
Framer is a design and website-publishing platform that lets teams build interactive prototypes and production-ready websites visually, without necessarily writing code.
Overview
Framer began as a tool for high-fidelity, code-driven interactive prototypes and has evolved into a broader visual website builder that can take a design straight to a published, production site. Designers work on a canvas similar to Figma or Adobe XD, placing components, defining layouts, and wiring up interactions, animations, and page transitions. What distinguishes Framer is its emphasis on shipping the real thing: sites built in Framer can be published directly with hosting, custom domains, CMS-backed content, and SEO settings, closing the gap between design mockup and live website that traditionally required handing work off to developers. Its animation engine also underlies Framer Motion, a popular animation library used independently in React codebases. For teams, Framer sits between pure design tools and full custom development: it is commonly used for marketing sites, landing pages, and product prototypes where visual polish and fast iteration matter more than deep custom backend logic.
Key Features
- Visual canvas for designing interactive, animated prototypes
- Direct publishing of production websites with hosting included
- Built-in CMS for managing dynamic content like blogs
- Advanced animation and transition controls without writing code
- Component-based design system reusable across pages
- Framer Motion animation library usable independently in React projects
- Real-time collaboration similar to modern design tools