A carousel is a rotating set of images, text, or other content elements that cycle through a specific area on a website. Often found at the top of homepages, carousels are used to highlight multiple pieces of content without taking up much space. They can move automatically on a timer or be controlled manually by the user using navigation arrows or dots. Carousels are popular for showcasing featured products, services, or promotions in an engaging and interactive way.

How carousels work on a website

Carousels work by cycling through a predefined list of slides—each one containing images, text, or both—within the same section of a webpage. The most common types are image sliders and content sliders. Each "slide" is usually a div element styled with CSS and powered by JavaScript or a front-end library like jQuery or React. Controls such as left/right arrows or indicator dots let users manually navigate through the carousel, while autoplay settings can cycle through slides automatically.

They’re typically embedded in the homepage, landing pages, or product pages to draw attention to new or important content. However, it’s crucial to optimize them for both performance and accessibility to avoid hurting your SEO efforts or creating a poor user experience.

Pros and cons of using a carousel

Pros:

• Carousels make your site feel dynamic and interactive.
• They let you highlight multiple promotions or features without crowding the layout.
• When used properly, they can keep users engaged and encourage exploration.

Cons:

• If not optimized, they can slow down page load times.
• Carousels can sometimes overwhelm users or hide important content.
• On mobile devices, carousels may require careful touch support to work smoothly.

Deciding whether to include a carousel depends on your site goals and user behavior. In some cases, a static hero section might be more effective at communicating a single message clearly.

Best practices for carousel design

To get the most out of a carousel, follow a few essential best practices:

• Keep it simple. Don’t overload each slide with too much text or too many buttons.
• Make it accessible. Add alt text to images and ensure navigation buttons are keyboard-friendly.
• Use clear calls to action. Whether it’s a “Learn More” or “Buy Now,” make sure each slide has a clear purpose.
• Limit the number of slides. Three to five slides are usually enough; anything more can overwhelm or go unnoticed.

Testing your carousel’s performance on desktop and mobile is essential. A clunky carousel that’s hard to use will frustrate visitors and lead to higher bounce rates.

When to skip the carousel

While carousels look visually appealing, they’re not always the right fit. If you have a single, strong message—like announcing a sale or launching a new service—a static hero section might be more effective. Also, carousels can hurt performance on slow internet connections or older devices.

If your audience is likely to skim or scroll quickly, important information placed in later slides may never be seen. That’s why some modern web designers are leaning toward simpler layouts with more focused messaging and minimal motion.

FAQs about carousels

What’s the difference between a carousel and a slider?

The terms are often used interchangeably. Technically, a "carousel" implies looping content, while a "slider" might not loop back to the beginning. But in most web design conversations, they mean the same thing.

Are carousels bad for SEO?

They can be if not implemented properly. Search engines may have trouble crawling carousel content if it relies too heavily on JavaScript or hides key content. Use semantic HTML and ensure important content isn’t buried in a slide that users may never see.

Can I use carousels on mobile websites?

Yes, but design them carefully. Make sure swipe gestures work, buttons are tappable, and slides resize properly. A poorly optimized mobile carousel can create usability issues.

Do people interact with carousels?

Research shows that many users don’t interact with carousels beyond the first slide. If your most important content is buried in slide three or four, it may never be seen. That’s why it’s a good idea to test carousel performance and consider alternatives.

What’s the best way to add a carousel to my website?

If you're using a website builder like B12, adding a carousel is typically a drag-and-drop feature. If you're coding manually, you can use a library like Slick, Swiper, or Bootstrap to add one with built-in transitions and controls.

Build with confidence, not complexity

Carousels can be a great way to keep your homepage engaging, but only when done right. If you’re looking to build a professional, clean website that includes carousels or other dynamic elements, B12 makes the process simple. With built-in tools and AI-powered suggestions, you can build fast and stay focused on what matters most—your business. Sign up and start designing your site today with B12’s website builder.