How to Develop a Slider in Webflow: A Complete Guide

Sliders can be implemented in various ways, including using libraries like Splide, Swiper, or even custom-coded solutions. However, in this article, we will focus on the simplest implementation using Webflow's native slider component.

Sliders are a popular and dynamic way to showcase content on a website, and Webflow’s native slider component provides a powerful tool for creating them. In this guide, we’ll explore how to develop three types of sliders using Webflow’s slider component: static, semi-dynamic, and fully dynamic sliders. Follow along for step-by-step instructions to implement each slider.

Static Slider

Steps:

Step 1: Add a Section and a Container

Start by adding a section to your Webflow project and placing a container inside it for layout consistency.

Step 2: Add a Slider Element

Drag a slider element into the container. This will include the slider, mask, slides, arrows, and pagination.

Step 3: Style the Slider

If you're not sure how to manage styles in Webflow, we wrote a beginner guide teaching you how to use classes in Webflow.

If you already know how to do so, then continue by giving the slider a class .slider and style it with:

Step 4: Style the Mask

Create a random div and give it a class .mask with the following styles:

Delete the random div and apply the .mask class to the slider’s mask element.

Step 5: Style the Arrows

Assign a class .arrow-btn to both arrow buttons and add a combo class .is-prev to a button that should move the slider to the previous slide. Style .arrow-btn as follows:

Style the .arrow-btn.is-prev button:

Step 6: Adjust Slider Settings

1. In the slider settings, disable infinite repeat slides.
2. Hide Pagination
   • Give the pagination element a class .display-none and style it to hide.

Step 7: Style the Slides

• Create a random div, assign it a class .slide, and style it as:

• Delete the random div and assign the .slide class to the slide elements.‍

Step 8: Populate and Style the Slides

• Add content to the first slide and style it as needed.

Step 9: Duplicate Slides

• Copy the first slide as many times as necessary and replace the content in each duplicate.

Semi-Dynamic Slider

Building a static slider is a prerequisite to creating both semi-dynamic and dynamic sliders. Ensure you have a fully functional static slider before proceeding with the steps below.

Steps:

1. Copy the Static Slider Section
   • Duplicate the section containing the static slider.
2. Adjust Slides
   • Delete all but one slide and add a combo class to remove padding from the remaining slide.
3. Add a Collection List
   • Add a collection list to the first slide with a limit set to 1 and start at 1.
4. Style the Collection Items
   • Assign a class .slide to the collection item.
5. Connect Content
   • Copy over content from the static slide and link it to dynamic fields within the CMS.
6. Duplicate Slides
   • Copy the first slide and update the collection list to:
     • Limit: 1
     • Start at the next collection item (e.g., 2 for the second slide).
7. Repeat for Additional Slides
   • Repeat the above steps for as many slides as required.

Dynamic Slider

A functional static slider is required before moving to a dynamic implementation. Complete the static slider setup and follow these steps for a fully dynamic slider.

Steps:

1. Copy the Static Slider Section
   • Duplicate the section containing the static slider.
2. Remove Extra Slides
   • Delete all but one slide and add a combo class to remove padding from the remaining slide.
3. Add a Collection List
   • Place a collection list below the slider component and assign a class .slide to the collection items.
4. Connect Content
   • Copy content from the static slide and link it to dynamic fields within the CMS.
5. Integrate Finsweet’s CMS Slider Attributes
   • Open a new browser tab and navigate to Finsweet Attributes, searching for the CMS Slider solution.
6. Embed the CDN Script
   • Copy the CDN script provided on Finsweet’s page and add it to the page’s head section in Webflow settings.
7. Add Attributes
   • Add the following attributes:
     • fs-cmsslider-element="slider" to the slider element.
     • fs-cmsslider-element="list" to the collection list.
8. Publish the Site
   • Publish your project and enjoy your fully dynamic slider.

Conclusion

Creating sliders in Webflow using the slider component is versatile and efficient. Whether you’re building a static, semi-dynamic, or fully dynamic slider, following these steps will help you craft engaging and interactive experiences for your website visitors.

For more advanced sliders, consider exploring third-party libraries like Splide or Swiper.js, which provide additional flexibility beyond Webflow’s built-in slider. If your goal is to create a smooth, infinite vertical scrolling experience, we’ve outlined a full implementation using Swiper.js in our Vertical Slideshow Guide.

To explore other advanced Webflow features, like dynamic filtering and pagination — see our guide on building an accessible filter and pagination system in Webflow with Finsweet Attributes.

For even more advanced sliders, consider exploring third-party libraries like Splide or Swiper, but Webflow’s native tools are powerful enough to meet basic needs. And if you can't seem to implement this or a more complex slider solution yourself, or team of Webflow development experts is here to help.