Figma is one of the most widely used collaborative design tools in the world. In this article, we explore what it is, how it works, its main advantages, and the recent technological optimizations that have allowed the platform to grow and efficiently support millions of users at scale.
Figma: what it is and why it has become a standard in digital design
Figma is a web-based UI/UX design tool used by designers, developers, and product teams to collaboratively create digital interfaces. Unlike traditional software, Figma works directly in the browser (with optional desktop apps) and allows multiple people to work simultaneously on the same file in real time.
Thanks to its simplicity, flexibility, and power, Figma has become a standard in product design, web design, and application development, adopted by both startups and large enterprises.
How Figma works
Figma is built on a cloud-first architecture. All files are saved online and accessible from anywhere, without the need for local versions or manual transfers.
Its main features include:
- Advanced vector editor for interface creation
- Real-time collaboration (similar to Google Docs)
- Reusable components and design systems
- Interactive prototyping without code
- Comments and feedback directly on the design
- Integrations and plugins to extend functionality
Technically, every user action is synchronized instantly with Figma’s backend, ensuring real-time updates for all collaborators.
Key advantages of Figma
Figma’s tremendous success comes from several key advantages:
1. Real-time collaboration
Multiple users can edit the same file simultaneously, eliminating version conflicts.
2. Accessibility
Being browser-based, Figma is accessible from any operating system without complex installations.
3. Performance and reliability
Even with complex files and large teams, Figma maintains high performance.
4. Scalable design systems
Components ensure visual consistency and speed up workflows.
5. Evolving ecosystem
Plugins, APIs, and integrations make Figma extremely extensible.
The scalability challenge: from a few users to over 10 million
With such rapid growth, Figma faced one of the toughest challenges for any SaaS platform: infrastructure scalability.
Initially, the team had to scale a monolithic PostgreSQL database designed for far fewer users than current volumes.
In a recent technical thread, Figma shared the journey from a single database to a horizontally sharded architecture capable of supporting over 10 million active users.
Phase 1: immediate relief with vertical scaling
The first phase addressed the most urgent issues:
- Vertical scaling of PostgreSQL
- Introduction of read replicas to reduce read load
- Connection pooling via PG Bouncer
These solutions provided a quick improvement but were insufficient for the long term.
Phase 2: stability with logical partitioning
In the medium term, Figma adopted logical partitioning, separating table groups into dedicated databases.
Notable innovations included:
- PostgreSQL views to simulate sharding
- Query testing on sharded structures before physical separation
During migration, the team optimized logical replication, temporarily removing indexes to speed up data transfer, drastically reducing migration time.
Phase 3: horizontal sharding and distributed architecture
The final phase achieved true scalability:
- Introduction of horizontal sharding
- Creation of a custom query router
- Development of a DB proxy in Golang for intelligent query routing across shards
Deployment occurred in two stages, using PG Bouncer to ensure safe transitions without downtime, allowing gradual and controlled traffic routing.
Why these optimizations matter
These optimizations are not just relevant for Figma—they are a key case study for anyone building high-growth SaaS applications.
They demonstrate how:
- PostgreSQL can scale to extremely high levels
- Incremental solutions are often more effective than full rewrites
- The combination of architectural choices and custom tooling can make a huge difference
Conclusion
Figma is not just a design tool but an excellent example of a well-engineered tech product, both in terms of user experience and backend architecture.
Its evolution, from a simple collaborative tool to a global platform serving millions of users, shows how innovation, performance, and scalability can coexist when technical decisions are guided by a clear, progressive vision.
For professionals in design, development, or software architecture, Figma remains an essential reference point.
