Riding the React Carousel: A Journey through Carousel Libraries

As a developer, I've always been fascinated by the power of React. It allows me to create highly interactive and responsive web applications. One of the most intriguing aspects of React is the ability to create carousel components. These carousel components are a crucial part of many websites, providing a visually appealing way to showcase content.

React carousel libraries are a godsend for developers like me. They provide pre-built, fully customizable carousel components that can be integrated into any React application. These libraries offer a wide range of features, making it easier to create a carousel react component that fits perfectly with the needs of the project.

Choosing the right react carousel library for your project can be a daunting task. But with the right knowledge and understanding of the features of each library, you can make an informed decision. In the following sections, I will delve deeper into each of these libraries, discussing their key features and how to implement them in your React apps.

‍

Fullpage.js

1. Lazy Loading: Fullpage.js supports lazy loading, which can significantly improve the performance of your react apps, especially when dealing with large image galleries.
2. Automatically Normalize Slide Dimensions: This feature ensures that all carousel items are displayed correctly, regardless of their original dimensions.
3. Slide Transition Starts: Fullpage.js provides a callback function that is triggered when a slide transition starts, giving you more control over the carousel's behavior.
4. Fully Customizable: Fullpage.js is a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.

‍

Implementing Fullpage.js

1     import React from 'react';
2    import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
3    import ReactFullpage from '@fullpage/react-fullpage';
4    
5    const Fullpage = () => (
6      <ReactFullpage
7        //fullpage options
8        licenseKey = {'YOUR_KEY_HERE'}
9        scrollingSpeed = {1000}
10    
11        render={({ state, fullpageApi }) => {
12          return (
13            <ReactFullpage.Wrapper>
14              <div className="section">
15                <p>Section 1 (welcome to fullpage.js)</p>
16                <button onClick={() => fullpageApi.moveSectionDown()}>
17                  Click to move down
18                </button>
19              </div>
20              <div className="section">
21                <p>Section 2</p>
22              </div>
23            </ReactFullpage.Wrapper>
24          );
25        }}
26      />
27    );
28    
29    ReactDOM.render(<Fullpage />, document.getElementById('react-root'));
30     

In the above code, we import the ReactFullpage component from the @fullpage/react-fullpage package. We then use it in our FullpageWrapper component, passing in some options like sectionsColor and sections. The render prop is used to render the carousel items.

‍

React Id Swiper

1. RTL Support: React Id Swiper supports right-to-left (RTL) direction, making it a great choice for international React apps.
2. Multiple Items per Slide: This library supports displaying multiple items per slide, offering more flexibility in how your carousel is displayed.
3. Fully Customizable: React Id Swiper provides a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.
4. Lightweight: React Id Swiper is a lightweight library, making it a great choice for projects where performance is a key concern.

‍

Implementing React Id Swiper

1     import ReactIdSwiper from 'react-id-swiper';
2    import 'swiper/swiper.scss';
3    
4    const SwiperComponent = () => {
5      const params = {
6        slidesPerView: 3,
7        spaceBetween: 30,
8        pagination: {
9          clickable: true
10        }
11      }
12    
13      return (
14        <ReactIdSwiper {...params}>
15          <div>Slide 1</div>
16          <div>Slide 2</div>
17          <div>Slide 3</div>
18          <div>Slide 4</div>
19        </ReactIdSwiper>
20      );
21    };
22    
23    export default SwiperComponent;
24     

In the above code, we import the ReactIdSwiper component from the react-id-swiper package. We then use it in our SwiperComponent, passing in some options like slidesPerView, spaceBetween, and pagination.

‍

Pure React Carousel

1. Fully Responsive: It provides a fully responsive carousel component, ensuring your carousel looks great on all device sizes.
2. Pure React: This library is a pure React carousel, meaning it doesn't rely on any external JavaScript libraries, making it a great choice for projects where performance is a key concern.
3. Fully Customizable: It provides a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.

‍

Implementing Pure React Carousel

1     import { CarouselProvider, Slider, Slide, ButtonBack, ButtonNext } from 'pure-react-carousel';
2    import 'pure-react-carousel/dist/react-carousel.es.css';
3    
4    const CarouselComponent = () => {
5      return (
6        <CarouselProvider
7          naturalSlideWidth={100}
8          naturalSlideHeight={125}
9          totalSlides={3}
10        >
11          <Slider>
12            <Slide index={0}>I am the first Slide.</Slide>
13            <Slide index={1}>I am the second Slide.</Slide>
14            <Slide index={2}>I am the third Slide.</Slide>
15          </Slider>
16          <ButtonBack>Back</ButtonBack>
17          <ButtonNext>Next</ButtonNext>
18        </CarouselProvider>
19      );
20    };
21    
22    export default CarouselComponent;
23     

In the above code, we import the CarouselProvider, Slider, Slide, ButtonBack, and ButtonNext components from the pure-react-carousel package. We then use them in our CarouselComponent, passing in some options like naturalSlideWidth, naturalSlideHeight, and totalSlides.

‍

React Responsive Carousel

1. Lazy Loading: React Responsive Carousel supports lazy loading, which can significantly improve the performance of your React apps, especially when dealing with large image galleries.
2. Hardware Accelerated Transitions: This library uses hardware acceleration to provide smooth and efficient slide transitions.
3. Animate Slides: React Responsive Carousel provides the ability to animate slides, adding a dynamic element to your carousel.
4. Fully Responsive: This library provides a fully responsive carousel component, ensuring your carousel looks great on all device sizes.

‍

Implementing React Responsive Carousel

1     import { Carousel } from 'react-responsive-carousel';
2    import 'react-responsive-carousel/lib/styles/carousel.min.css';
3    
4    const CarouselComponent = () => {
5      return (
6        <Carousel autoPlay>
7          <div>
8            <img src="assets/1.jpeg" />
9            <p className="legend">Legend 1</p>
10          </div>
11          <div>
12            <img src="assets/2.jpeg" />
13            <p className="legend">Legend 2</p>
14          </div>
15          <div>
16            <img src="assets/3.jpeg" />
17            <p className="legend">Legend 3</p>
18          </div>
19        </Carousel>
20      );
21    };
22    
23    export default CarouselComponent;
24     

In the above code, we import the Carousel component from the react-responsive-carousel package. We then use it in our CarouselComponent, passing in the autoPlay prop to automatically transition between slides.

‍

React Image Gallery

1. Lazy Loading: React Image Gallery supports lazy loading, which can significantly improve the performance of your React apps, especially when dealing with large image galleries.
2. Fully Customizable: This library provides a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.
3. Content Rotators: React Image Gallery is perfect for creating content rotators, allowing you to showcase a variety of content in a dynamic way.
4. Lightweight: React Image Gallery is a lightweight library, making it a great choice for projects where performance is a key concern.

‍

Implementing React Image Gallery

1     import ImageGallery from 'react-image-gallery';
2    import 'react-image-gallery/styles/css/image-gallery.css';
3    
4    const images = [
5      {
6        original: 'https://photos/id/1018/1000/600/',
7        thumbnail: 'https://picsum.photos/id/1018/250/150/',
8      },
9      {
10        original: 'https://photos/id/1015/1000/600/',
11        thumbnail: 'https://photos/id/1015/250/150/',
12      },
13      {
14        original: 'https://photos/id/1019/1000/600/',
15        thumbnail: 'https://photos/id/1019/250/150/',
16      }
17    ];
18    
19    const GalleryComponent = () => {
20      return <ImageGallery items={images} />;
21    };
22    
23    export default GalleryComponent;
24     

In the above code, we import the ImageGallery component from the react-image-gallery package. We then use it in our GalleryComponent, passing in an array of images to be displayed.

‍

React Awesome Slider

1. Custom Animations: React Awesome Slider allows you to create carousel components with custom animations, adding a dynamic element to your carousel.
2. Transition Effects: This library provides a variety of transition effects, allowing you to create visually appealing carousel components.
3. Server-Side Rendering: React Awesome Slider supports server-side rendering, making it a great choice.
4. Fully Customizable: This library provides a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.

‍

Implementing React Awesome Slider

1     import AwesomeSlider from 'react-awesome-slider';
2    import 'react-awesome-slider/dist/styles.css';
3    
4    const SliderComponent = () => {
5      return (
6        <AwesomeSlider>
7          <div data-src="assets/1.jpg" />
8          <div data-src="assets/2.jpg" />
9          <div data-src="assets/3.jpg" />
10        </AwesomeSlider>
11      );
12    };
13    
14    export default SliderComponent;
15     

In the above code, we import the AwesomeSlider component from the react-awesome-slider package. We then use it in our SliderComponent, passing in a list of images to be displayed.

‍

Nuka Carousel

1. Custom Rendered Slides: Nuka Carousel allows you to create carousel components with custom-rendered slides, adding a dynamic element to your carousel.
2. Transition Effects: This library provides a variety of transition effects, allowing you to create visually appealing carousel components.
3. External Controls: Nuka Carousel supports external controls, making it a great choice for complex react apps where you need to control the carousel from other components.
4. Fully Customizable: This library provides a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.

‍

React Alice Carousel

1. Custom Indicators: React Alice Carousel allows you to create carousel components with custom indicators, adding a dynamic element to your carousel.
2. Transition Effects: This library provides a variety of transition effects, allowing you to create visually appealing carousel components.
3. Lazy Loading: React Alice Carousel supports lazy loading, which can significantly improve the performance of your React apps, especially when dealing with large image galleries.
4. Fully Customizable: This library provides a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.

‍

Implementing React Alice Carousel

1     import React from 'react';
2    import AliceCarousel from 'react-alice-carousel';
3    import 'react-alice-carousel/lib/alice-carousel.css';
4    
5    const handleDragStart = (e) => e.preventDefault();
6    
7    const items = [
8      <img src="assets/1.jpg" onDragStart={handleDragStart} role="presentation" />,
9      <img src="assets/2.jpg" onDragStart={handleDragStart} role="presentation" />,
10      <img src="assets/3.jpg" onDragStart={handleDragStart} role="presentation" />,
11    ];
12    
13    const CarouselComponent = () => {
14      return (
15        <AliceCarousel mouseTracking items={items} />
16      );
17    }
18    export default CarouselComponent;
19     

In the above code, we import the AliceCarousel component from the react-alice-carousel package. We then use it in our CarouselComponent, passing in the autoPlay and autoPlayInterval props to automatically transition between slides.

‍

React Slick

1. Swipe Gestures: React Slick supports swipe gestures, making it ideal for mobile web apps.
2. Hardware Accelerated Transitions: This library uses hardware acceleration to provide smooth and efficient slide transitions.
3. Fully Customizable: React Slick provides a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.

‍

Implementing React Slick

1     import Slider from 'react-slick';
2    import 'slick-carousel/slick/slick.css';
3    import 'slick-carousel/slick/slick-theme.css';
4    
5    const CarouselComponent = () => {
6      const settings = {
7        dots: true,
8        infinite: true,
9        speed: 500,
10        slidesToShow: 1,
11        slidesToScroll: 1
12      };
13    
14      return (
15        <Slider {...settings}>
16          <div>
17            <img src="assets/1.jpg" />
18          </div>
19          <div>
20            <img src="assets/2.jpg" />
21          </div>
22          <div>
23            <img src="assets/3.jpg" />
24          </div>
25        </Slider>
26      );
27    };
28    
29    export default CarouselComponent;
30     

In the above code, we import the Slider component from the react-slick package. We then use it in our CarouselComponent, passing in some settings like dots, infinite, speed, slidesToShow, and slidesToScroll.

‍

React Owl Carousel 2

1. Multiple Items per Slide: This library supports displaying multiple items per slide, offering more flexibility in how your carousel is displayed.
2. Hardware Accelerated Transitions: React Owl Carousel 2 uses hardware acceleration to provide smooth and efficient slide transitions.
3. Fully Customizable: This library provides a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.

‍

Implementing React Owl Carousel 2

1     import OwlCarousel from 'react-owl-carousel2';
2    import 'react-owl-carousel2/lib/styles.css';
3    
4    const options = {
5        items: 4,
6        nav: true,
7        rewind: true,
8        autoplay: true
9    };
10    
11    const CarouselComponent = () => {
12      return (
13        <OwlCarousel options={options}>
14          <div><img src="assets/1.jpg" /></div>
15          <div><img src="assets/2.jpg" /></div>
16          <div><img src="assets/3.jpg" /></div>
17          <div><img src="assets/4.jpg" /></div>
18        </OwlCarousel>
19      );
20    };
21    
22    export default CarouselComponent;
23     

In the above code, we import the OwlCarousel component from the react-owl-carousel2 package. We then use it in our CarouselComponent, passing in some options like items, nav, rewind, and autoplay.

‍

React Swipe

1. Swipe Support: React Swipe supports swipe gestures, making it ideal for mobile web apps.
2. Transition Effects: This library provides a variety of transition effects, allowing you to create visually appealing carousel components.
3. Lazy Loading: React Swipe supports lazy loading, which can significantly improve the performance of your React apps, especially when dealing with large image galleries.
4. Fully Customizable: This library provides a fully customizable carousel component, allowing you to tailor its look and feel to match your project's requirements.

‍

Implementing React Swipe

1     import ReactSwipe from 'react-swipe';
2    
3    const CarouselComponent = () => {
4      let reactSwipeEl;
5    
6      return (
7        <div>
8          <ReactSwipe
9            className="carousel"
10            swipeOptions={{ continuous: false }}
11            ref={el => (reactSwipeEl = el)}
12          >
13            <div><img src="assets/1.jpg" /></div>
14            <div><img src="assets/2.jpg" /></div>
15            <div><img src="assets/3.jpg" /></div>
16          </ReactSwipe>
17          <button onClick={() => reactSwipeEl.prev()}>Previous</button>
18          <button onClick={() => reactSwipeEl.next()}>Next</button>
19        </div>
20      );
21    };
22    
23    export default CarouselComponent;
24     

In the above code, we import the ReactSwipe component from the react-swipe package. We then use it in our CarouselComponent, passing in the swipeOptions prop to configure the carousel. We also use the prev and next methods to navigate between slides.

‍

Empower Your React Applications With React Carousel!

In conclusion, React carousel libraries provide a powerful and efficient way to create visually appealing carousel components in your React applications. These libraries offer a wide range of features, from lazy loading and hardware-accelerated transitions to custom animations and server-side rendering.

Choosing the right carousel library for your project depends on your specific needs and requirements. Some libraries are better suited for mobile web apps, while others are ideal for large image galleries or SEO-focused React apps.

In this article, we've explored some of the best React carousel libraries available, discussing their key features and providing examples of how to implement them in your React apps. Whether you're looking for a simple, lightweight carousel component or a fully customizable carousel with advanced features, there's a React carousel library out there that's perfect for your project.

Therefore, feel free to explore and play around with these libraries to find the one that best suits your project's needs. Your hands-on experience will not only enhance your understanding but also empower you to create more dynamic and interactive React applications. Keep exploring, and most importantly, keep creating!

‍

Short on time? Speed things up with DhiWise!

Tired of manually designing screens, coding on weekends, and technical debt? Let DhiWise handle it for you!

You can build an e-commerce store, healthcare app, portfolio, blogging website, social media or admin panel right away. Use our library of 40+ pre-built free templates to create your first application using DhiWise.