Build Smooth CSS Carousels Like Nike & Apple with Webgurukul

-By Anushree Raut

May 03, 2025

Software Development

Have you ever wondered how companies like Nike and Apple create those super smooth, touch-friendly carousels on their websites? These carousels feel amazing on both desktop and mobile devices, snapping cleanly as you scroll.

While many assume they rely on heavy JavaScript libraries, you can actually achieve a similar effect with just a few lines of pure CSS—thanks to the scroll-snap property. In this blog, we’ll break down how to build one, with an optional JavaScript enhancement for added interactivity.

Why Learn Web Development in Nagpur with Webgurukul?

Nagpur is a growing hub for IT education, and web development training in Nagpur is in high demand. At Webgurukul, we offer:

• Industry-Relevant Skills: Learn modern techniques like CSS scroll-snap for carousels.

• 100% Placement Assistance: Our graduates secure jobs at top IT firms.

• Affordable Courses: Get world-class training at budget-friendly prices.

Ready to master web development? Let’s dive into creating a touch-friendly carousel with CSS!

Step 1: Set Up the HTML Structure for Your Carousel

The foundation of a smooth carousel is a clean HTML structure. We’ll use an unordered list where each item represents a carousel slide.

<ul class="carousel">
<li class="item">Slide 1</li>
<li class="item">Slide 2</li>
<li class="item">Slide 3</li>
<li class="item">Slide 4</li>
</ul>

This simple setup is perfect for beginners learning web development tutorials at Webgurukul.

Step 2: Add CSS Scroll-Snap for Smooth Navigation

The secret to a Nike or Apple-like carousel lies in CSS scroll-snap properties. These ensure the carousel snaps to each slide as you scroll.

.carousel {
display: flex;
overflow-x: auto;
scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
scroll-padding: 0 24px;
gap: 12px;
padding: 12px 0;
}

• scroll-snap-type: x mandatory: Forces the carousel to snap to one slide at a time.

• scroll-padding: 0 24px: Adds padding for a polished look, keeping slides away from the edges.

This technique is part of our website development course in Nagpur, where you’ll master CSS for real-world projects.

Step 3: Style the Carousel Slides

Next, style each slide to control its appearance and snapping behavior.

.carousel .item {
scroll-snap-align: start;
flex: 0 0 220px;
height: 160px;
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
border-radius: 8px;
}

• scroll-snap-align: start: Aligns each slide’s left edge to the container’s start.

• flex: 0 0 220px: Sets a fixed width for consistency across devices.

Experiment with center or end for different snapping effects, a topic we cover in our web development classes in Nagpur.

Step 4: Optional JavaScript for Enhanced Interactivity

For added functionality, like navigation buttons, use JavaScript’s scrollIntoView() method to smoothly scroll to specific slides.

<div class="controls">
<button onclick="scrollToItem(0)">Slide 1</button>
<button onclick="scrollToItem(1)">Slide 2</button>
<button onclick="scrollToItem(2)">Slide 3</button>
<button onclick="scrollToItem(3)">Slide 4</button>
</div>
<script>
function scrollToItem(index) {
const items = document.querySelectorAll('.carousel .item');
items[index].scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', inline: 'start' });
}
</script>

This code adds a professional touch, similar to what you’ll learn in Webgurukul’s web development course in Nagpur.

Browser Support for CSS Scroll-Snap

As of 2025, CSS scroll-snap enjoys robust browser support:

For older browsers, the carousel falls back to regular scrolling, ensuring accessibility. Learn more about cross-browser compatibility in our best IT training institute in Nagpur.

How Nike and Apple Achieve Their Carousels

While our pure CSS approach is lightweight, Nike and Apple often use libraries like SwiperJS for advanced features (as noted in Reddit discussions). However, CSS scroll-snap offers a native, touch-friendly carousel experience without heavy dependencies, making it ideal for performance-focused developers. At Webgurukul, we teach both approaches in our web design courses in Nagpur.

Conclusion: Start Building with Webgurukul

With just a few lines of CSS and optional JavaScript, you can create a smooth CSS carousel that rivals industry leaders like Nike and Apple. Ready to take your skills further? Join Webgurukul’s web development course in Nagpur to master modern web design techniques, from carousels to responsive layouts, with 100% placement support. Enroll today or book a free demo class at Webgurukul Nagpur!

Thank you!