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Carousels

Carousels Bad Practice
Carousels Best Practice

Mobile carousels, like accordions, compress content into smaller spaces. However, they suffer from low discoverability and require sequential access — users must view items one by one to reach the last one.

Many mobile carousels also lack swipe functionality, complicating user interaction. Here's how designers can address these challenges:

  • Limit to 3-5 items: Fewer items increase discoverability and maintain user interest
  • Prioritize items: Place the most relevant content first to capture and retain attention
  • Add indicators: Use arrows and dots to signal carousel presence and aid discovery
  • Show continuity: Display partial images or text to indicate additional swipeable content
  • Enable swiping: Users expect this familiar gesture when multiple items exist
  • Keep content related: Unrelated content increases cognitive load and reduces predictability.[1]
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