Reusable Element

When you’re building an app in a no-code/low-code platform, you’ll often find yourself repeating the same design or feature on different pages. For example, a navigation bar, footer, or login form. Instead of recreating these elements from scratch every time, you can use something called a reusable element.

A reusable element is a pre-built block you can design once and use many times across your app. Update it in one place, and the changes apply everywhere. This saves time, keeps your app consistent, and makes managing updates much easier.

In this guide, I’ll explain what reusable elements are, how they work, why they matter, and how you can use them effectively in no-code/low-code development.

What is a Reusable Element?

A reusable element is a component or design block you create once and reuse across multiple pages or workflows in your app. Instead of duplicating work, you design it one time and place it wherever needed.

Examples include:

• Navigation bars
• Footers
• Headers
• Login forms
• Pop-ups
• Buttons with actions

Reusable elements make your app modular, meaning you can build with blocks instead of coding everything from scratch.

How Reusable Elements Work in No-code/Low-code

In most no-code/low-code platforms, reusable elements are created in a dedicated editor. Once designed, they’re available to insert anywhere in your app.

Here’s how it usually works:

1. Create the element – For example, a header with a logo, menu, and profile button.
2. Save it as reusable – Mark it as reusable in your platform.
3. Insert it anywhere – Add it to multiple pages or sections.
4. Edit once, update everywhere – If you change the header, all pages update automatically.

For example, in Bubble, reusable elements act like independent building blocks that you can place in multiple spots.

Benefits of Reusable Elements

Reusable elements are one of the most time-saving features in app building.

Key benefits include:

• Efficiency – Design once, use everywhere.
• Consistency – Keep the same style across pages.
• Easy updates – Change in one place, update across the app.
• Scalability – Add more features without redesigning.
• Error reduction – Prevents mistakes caused by manually recreating layouts.

This approach makes your app easier to build and maintain.

Examples of Reusable Elements in Apps

Reusable elements appear in almost every modern app. Here are some examples:

• Navigation bar – Same menu shown on every page.
• Footer – Contact details and links across all sections.
• Login form – Used on signup page, pop-ups, or restricted areas.
• Product cards – Same template used for different items in e-commerce.
• Notification banners – One reusable alert for different messages.

Instead of recreating these each time, reusable elements make them easy to manage.

Reusable Element vs Repeating Group

It’s common to confuse reusable elements with repeating groups, but they’re different:

• Repeating group – Displays multiple records from a database in a list (e.g., a product catalog).
• Reusable element – A design or feature you can use in multiple places (e.g., a header or login form).

Repeating groups are data-driven; reusable elements are design-driven. Both save time but serve different purposes.

Reusable Elements in Popular No-code Tools

Many platforms provide reusable elements in different forms:

• Bubble – Dedicated reusable elements editor for headers, footers, pop-ups, etc.
• Glide – Components that can be reused across tabs.
• FlutterFlow – Custom widgets that can be reused.
• Adalo – Shared components across screens.
• Webflow – Symbols, which work like reusable design blocks.

No matter the platform, reusable elements help you design faster and maintain consistency.

How to Use Reusable Elements Effectively

To get the most out of reusable elements, follow these tips:

• Identify common features – Look for elements you use repeatedly (headers, buttons, forms).
• Keep them modular – Design them to be flexible for different contexts.
• Update carefully – Remember changes affect all instances.
• Use naming conventions – Label clearly for easy reuse.
• Combine with workflows – Add logic inside reusable elements for smarter functionality.

Well-designed reusable elements speed up app development and reduce maintenance effort.

Conclusion

A reusable element is a building block you design once and use many times in your app. It saves time, ensures consistency, and makes updates easier. Whether it’s a navigation bar, login form, or product card, reusable elements are essential for no-code/low-code development.

If you want to build scalable apps quickly, learning how to use reusable elements effectively will save you hours of work and make your projects look professional.