> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://doc.getrationale.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Catch design drift automatically with Rationale Match

> Link a Figma file and PRD so Rationale audits every save automatically, flags drift, and locks Dev Handoff until all requirements are covered.

Rationale Match keeps your designs and your spec in sync throughout development. Once you connect a Figma file and a PRD, Rationale re-runs the full audit each time you save a named version in Figma. Any drift between what was specced and what was designed is flagged immediately, and the Dev Handoff tab stays locked until you confirm requirements are covered.

## When to use Match

Use Match when your designs are still being iterated. It's built for ongoing product development where multiple Figma saves happen between kickoff and handoff. If you already have designs but no PRD, start with [Designs first. Docs follow.](/workflows/design-to-prd) to generate a PRD first, then connect it here.

## How to start a Match project

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a new project">
    Open Rationale and click **New project**. On the gateway picker screen, select **Ship what was specced.** — this is the Match gateway.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name your project">
    Enter a project name that describes the surface you're shipping, for example "Checkout redesign".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your PRD">
    Choose how to import your spec:

    * **Notion** — pick a page directly from your connected Notion workspace
    * **Upload** — drag in a `.pdf`, `.doc`, `.docx`, `.md`, or `.txt` file
    * **Paste a link** — paste a Google Doc, Confluence URL, or any other document link
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste your Figma URL">
    Paste a Figma file or frame URL (for example `https://figma.com/file/…`). Rationale uses this to watch the file and pull screen images for each audit.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start watching">
    Click **Start watching**. Rationale creates the project and takes you straight to the project view. No generation step runs — the first audit triggers when you save a named version in Figma.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the audit after each save">
    Each time you save a named version in Figma, Rationale re-audits the file and updates the project. Open the project to review the latest results across all tabs.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Audit result tabs

After an audit runs, five tabs are available:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Summary" icon="sparkles">
    A documentation-style overview of the project: entry points, core user flows, edge cases, business rules, coverage health score, and the approval action.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Requirements" icon="list-checks">
    Every requirement extracted from your PRD, each marked as Met, Needs review, Missing state, Missing requirement, or Conflicting logic.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Gaps & Edge Cases" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    Findings grouped by Screens, Missing states, and Accessibility. Each finding is tagged as blocker, warning, or minor.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Decisions & Notes" icon="message-square">
    A running log of design decisions and notes attached to this project version.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Dev Handoff" icon="rocket">
    The clean, exportable handoff payload. Locked until you approve the audit. Export as a Word document once approved.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  The **Dev Handoff** tab is locked until you approve the audit. To unlock it, open the **Summary** tab and click **Approve for Dev**. Approving locks the requirement list and immediately redirects you to the handoff view.
</Note>

## Approving and exporting the handoff

When you're satisfied that the designs cover the spec, approve the audit from the **Summary** tab. Once approved:

* The requirement list is locked for this version.
* The **Dev Handoff** tab unlocks and shows cleared requirements and covered edge cases.
* Click **Create handoff doc** to export a `.docx` file. Select which sections to include — project summary, requirements, gaps, dev specs, edge cases, and accessibility — then click **Download**.

The exported Word document opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any app that reads `.docx` files. See the [Dev handoff](/features/handoff) page for details on section selection.

<Tip>
  Connect Slack in your project settings to receive an audit summary automatically every time a new version is detected in Figma. This keeps your whole team informed without anyone needing to check Rationale manually.
</Tip>