Webflow Code Component:component Scaffold

Component Scaffold

Generate a new Webflow Code Component with proper file structure, React component, and .webflow.tsx definition file.

When to Use This Skill

Use when:

• Creating a new code component from scratch
• User asks to scaffold, generate, or create a component
• Starting a new component with proper Webflow file structure

Do NOT use when:

• Converting an existing React component (use convert-component skill)
• Modifying existing components (answer directly or use component-audit)
• Just asking questions about components (answer directly)
• Setting up a complex project with custom bundler config (use local-dev-setup instead)

Note: This skill can handle basic setup (webflow.json + dependencies) automatically. Use local-dev-setup only for complex setups requiring Tailwind, custom webpack config, or monorepo configurations.

Instructions

Phase 0: Prerequisites Check (Run First)

Before gathering any requirements, verify the project is set up for Webflow Code Components:

1. Check for webflow.json:

   # Look for webflow.json in project root
   

   • If missing: Offer to create it or invoke local-dev-setup skill

2. Check for required dependencies in package.json:

   {
     "devDependencies": {
       "@webflow/webflow-cli": "...",
       "@webflow/data-types": "...",
       "@webflow/react": "..."
     }
   }
   

   • If missing: Offer to install them:

     npm i --save-dev @webflow/webflow-cli @webflow/data-types @webflow/react
     

3. Check for components directory:

   • Look for existing pattern (e.g., src/components/)
   • If no components exist, determine where to create them based on webflow.json config

4. Report setup status:

   If all prerequisites met:

   ✅ Project ready for code components
   - webflow.json: Found
   - Dependencies: Installed
   - Components path: src/components/
   
   Let's create your component...
   

   If prerequisites missing:

   ⚠️ Project Setup Required
   
   Missing:
   - [ ] webflow.json configuration file
   - [ ] @webflow/webflow-cli dependency
   - [ ] @webflow/data-types dependency
   - [ ] @webflow/react dependency
   
   Would you like me to:
   1. Set up the missing items now (quick setup)
   2. Run full project initialization (local-dev-setup skill)
   
   Choose an option:
   

   Quick setup creates minimal config:

   // webflow.json
   {
     "library": {
       "name": "My Component Library",
       "components": ["./src/components/**/*.webflow.tsx"]
     }
   }
   

   And installs dependencies.

   Optional: webflow.json also supports a "globals" field pointing to a globals file (e.g., "globals": "./src/globals.webflow.ts"). The globals file is used for global CSS imports (e.g., Tailwind) and exporting decorator arrays. Add this when using styled-components, Emotion, or Tailwind.

Only proceed to Phase 1 after prerequisites are confirmed.

Phase 1: Gather Requirements

1. Get component name: Ask user for the component name

   • Must be PascalCase (e.g., "Accordion", "ProductCard")
   • Suggest name if user provides description instead

2. Determine component type: Ask what kind of component

   • Interactive (buttons, forms, accordions)
   • Display (cards, banners, testimonials)
   • Layout (grids, containers, sections)
   • Data-driven (lists, tables, charts)

3. Identify props needed: Based on component type, suggest props

   • Text content → props.Text() or props.RichText()
   • Canvas-editable text → props.TextNode()
   • Images → props.Image()
   • Links → props.Link()
   • Numeric values → props.Number()
   • Variants/styles → props.Variant()
   • Nested content → props.Slot()
   • Toggles → props.Boolean()
   • Show/hide sections → props.Visibility()
   • HTML element IDs → props.Id()

4. Styling approach: Ask preferred styling method

   • CSS Modules (default, recommended)
   • Tailwind CSS
   • styled-components
   • Emotion
   • Sass / Less
   • Plain CSS
   • Other supported: MUI (uses Emotion), Shadcn/UI (uses Tailwind)

5. SSR requirements: Determine if component needs client-only features

   • Uses browser APIs? → ssr: false
   • Pure presentation? → ssr: true (default)

Phase 2: Validate Project Setup

6. Check project structure:

   • Verify webflow.json exists
   • Check for required dependencies
   • Identify components directory pattern

7. Check for conflicts:

   • Ensure component name doesn't already exist
   • Verify no .webflow.tsx file with same name

Phase 3: Generate Files

8. Create directory structure:

src/components/[ComponentName]/
├── [ComponentName].tsx
├── [ComponentName].webflow.tsx
└── [ComponentName].module.css (if CSS Modules)

9. Generate React component ([ComponentName].tsx):

import React from "react";
import styles from "./[ComponentName].module.css";

export interface [ComponentName]Props {
  // Props interface based on user requirements
}

export const [ComponentName]: React.FC<[ComponentName]Props> = ({
  // Destructured props with defaults
}) => {
  return (
    <div className={styles.container}>
      {/* Component JSX */}
    </div>
  );
};

10. Generate definition file ([ComponentName].webflow.tsx):

import { declareComponent } from "@webflow/react";
import { props } from "@webflow/data-types";
import { [ComponentName] } from "./[ComponentName]";
import "./[ComponentName].module.css";

export default declareComponent([ComponentName], {
  name: "[ComponentName]",
  description: "[User-provided or generated description]",
  group: "[Category]",
  props: {
    // Props configuration based on requirements
  },
  options: {
    applyTagSelectors: true,
    ssr: true // or false based on requirements
  }
});

Note on decorators: declareComponent also accepts an optional decorators array for wrapping components with providers. Built-in decorators include styledComponentsShadowDomDecorator (for styled-components) and emotionShadowDomDecorator (for Emotion). Global decorators can be exported from a globals file referenced in webflow.json — see the globals file note below.

11. Generate styles (if CSS Modules):

.container {
  /* Base styles */
}

Phase 4: Provide Guidance

12. Show created files: List all files created with paths

13. Explain next steps:

    • Implement component logic
    • Add styling
    • Test locally by running the React project (e.g., npm run dev)
    • Deploy to Webflow with npx webflow library share

14. Shadow DOM awareness:

Note: Code components run inside Shadow DOM. Site-level CSS classes won't work
inside your component. Use component-scoped styles (CSS Modules, etc.).
Site CSS variables DO work — use var(--variable-name, fallback).

15. Warn about naming:

⚠️ Important: Do not rename the .webflow.tsx file after deployment.
Renaming creates a new component and breaks existing instances.

Examples

User prompt:

Create an accordion component

Step 1: Requirements Gathering

📦 New Component: Accordion

I'll create an accordion component. Let me confirm the requirements:

**Props to include:**
1. `title` (Text) - The accordion header text
2. `content` (Rich Text) - The expandable content
3. `defaultOpen` (Boolean) - Whether to start expanded
4. `icon` (Variant) - Chevron style: "arrow" | "plus" | "none"

**Styling:** CSS Modules (recommended for Shadow DOM)

**SSR:** Enabled (no browser-only APIs needed)

Does this look right? Any props to add or remove?

Step 2: After User Confirms

📁 Creating Component Files...

Created:
├── src/components/Accordion/Accordion.tsx
├── src/components/Accordion/Accordion.webflow.tsx
└── src/components/Accordion/Accordion.module.css

✅ Component scaffold complete!

---

**Accordion.tsx** - React component with:
- Props: title, content, defaultOpen, icon
- State management for open/closed
- Accessible keyboard navigation
- CSS Module classes

**Accordion.webflow.tsx** - Webflow definition with:
- All props configured for Designer editing
- Default values set
- SSR enabled

---

💡 Next Steps:
1. Review and customize the generated code
2. Test locally by running your React project (e.g., `npm run dev`)
3. Deploy to Webflow: `npx webflow library share`

⚠️ Remember: Don't rename .webflow.tsx files after deployment!

Generated Accordion.tsx:

import React, { useState } from "react";
import styles from "./Accordion.module.css";

export interface AccordionProps {
  title: string;
  content: string;
  defaultOpen?: boolean;
  icon?: "arrow" | "plus" | "none";
}

export const Accordion: React.FC<AccordionProps> = ({
  title,
  content,
  defaultOpen = false,
  icon = "arrow"
}) => {
  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(defaultOpen);

  return (
    <div className={styles.accordion}>
      <button
        className={styles.header}
        => setIsOpen(!isOpen)}
        aria-expanded={isOpen}
      >
        <span className={styles.title}>{title}</span>
        {icon !== "none" && (
          <span className={`${styles.icon} ${isOpen ? styles.open : ""}`}>
            {icon === "arrow" ? "▼" : "+"}
          </span>
        )}
      </button>
      {isOpen && (
        <div
          className={styles.content}
          dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: content }}
        />
      )}
    </div>
  );
};

Generated Accordion.webflow.tsx:

import { declareComponent } from "@webflow/react";
import { props } from "@webflow/data-types";
import { Accordion } from "./Accordion";
import "./Accordion.module.css";

export default declareComponent(Accordion, {
  name: "Accordion",
  description: "Expandable content section with customizable header and icon",
  group: "Interactive",
  props: {
    title: props.Text({
      name: "Title",
      defaultValue: "Accordion Title"
    }),
    content: props.RichText({
      name: "Content",
      defaultValue: "<p>Accordion content goes here.</p>"
    }),
    defaultOpen: props.Boolean({
      name: "Start Expanded",
      defaultValue: false
    }),
    icon: props.Variant({
      name: "Icon Style",
      options: ["arrow", "plus", "none"],
      defaultValue: "arrow"
    })
  },
  options: {
    applyTagSelectors: true,
    ssr: true
  }
});

Guidelines

Prop Type Selection

Component Categories (Groups)

• Interactive: Buttons, forms, accordions, tabs, modals
• Display: Cards, banners, testimonials, badges
• Layout: Grids, containers, sections, dividers
• Navigation: Menus, breadcrumbs, pagination
• Media: Galleries, video players, carousels
• Data: Tables, lists, charts, counters

SSR Decision Tree

Set ssr: false if ANY of these apply:

1. Browser APIs — Uses window, document, localStorage, or similar
2. Dynamic/personalized content — User-specific dashboards, authenticated views, client data
3. Heavy/interactive UI — Charts, 3D scenes, maps, animation-driven elements
4. Non-deterministic output — Random numbers, time-based values, anything that renders differently server vs client

Otherwise → Keep ssr: true (default)

File Naming Rules

• Component name: PascalCase (ProductCard)
• Files use same name: ProductCard.tsx, ProductCard.webflow.tsx
• CSS modules: ProductCard.module.css
• Directory: src/components/ProductCard/

Default Values Best Practice

Always provide meaningful defaults:

props: {
  title: props.Text({
    name: "Title",
    defaultValue: "Card Title"  // ✅ Good
  }),
  count: props.Number({
    name: "Count",
    defaultValue: 0  // ✅ Good
  })
}

Not:

props: {
  title: props.Text({
    name: "Title"
    // ❌ Missing defaultValue
  })
}

Error Handling

Component name already exists:

⚠️ Component "Button" already exists at src/components/Button/

Options:
1. Choose a different name
2. Update existing component (use component-audit skill)
3. Delete existing and create new

Which would you like to do?

Missing webflow.json:

❌ No webflow.json found in project root

This file is required for code components. Would you like me to:
1. Create a basic webflow.json
2. Run local-dev-setup skill for full project initialization

Choose an option (1/2):

Invalid component name:

⚠️ Invalid component name: "my-button"

Component names must be:
- PascalCase (e.g., "MyButton")
- Start with a letter
- Contain only letters and numbers

Suggested name: "MyButton"

Use this name? (yes/no)