Guide · Open source
How to use Slick: install the JavaScript carousel library
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
Slick is an open-source JavaScript library that turns a set of items on a web page, such as images, banners or cards, into a slideshow or carousel that visitors can swipe or click through. This guide is for front-end developers and site builders who want a ready-made carousel instead of writing one from scratch. By the end you will know what Slick is for, how to get its source code from GitHub, and whether it suits your project.
Slickkenwheeler/slick · ★ 28.5k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Confirm the fit. Check that your site is front-end code that can take a jQuery-style library, and that you are comfortable editing HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
- 2Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/kenwheeler/slick.git in a terminal to copy the source to your machine.
- 3Read the README. Open the README in the cloned folder, since the build and usage steps are not fully covered in the text reviewed here.
- 4Build the library. Follow the build instructions in the repository to produce the files your site will use.
- 5Add Slick to your page. Include the built Slick files in your HTML and initialise the carousel on the items you want to show.
- 6Test the carousel. Check that visitors can swipe and click through the items on both desktop and mobile.
What Slick does
Slick is a JavaScript library. You give it a set of items on a page and it presents them as a slideshow or carousel. Visitors can move through the content by swiping or clicking.
The source describes common uses as image galleries, banner rotations and card layouts.
Get the Slick source code
The project is hosted on GitHub. To copy the repository to your machine, run the clone command below in a terminal.
The README lists no prerequisites, so you do not need to install anything extra to clone it. Git itself must be available on your system to run the command.
git clone https://github.com/kenwheeler/slick.gitBuild and add Slick to your site
Slick is distributed as source to clone and build, so you work from the repository rather than downloading a single ready-made file. The README text available for this guide was cut off, so the exact build steps, file paths and setup options are not confirmed here.
Check the README in the cloned repository and the project homepage at kenwheeler.github.io/slick for the current build and usage instructions before you wire it into your pages.
- Clone the repository with the command above.
- Read the README in the cloned folder for build and usage instructions.
- Include the built Slick files in your HTML page and initialise the carousel on your set of items.
- Test swiping and clicking on both desktop and mobile screens.
Check the licence before you modify it
Slick is published under the MIT license. The source describes this as a licence that lets teams modify the library freely, so it can be a good fit when you need to change how the carousel behaves.
Keep the licence notice with any copies you distribute, as the MIT terms require. This is general licence information, so read the LICENSE file in the repository for the exact terms.
Decide whether Slick fits your project
Slick is a strong choice for front-end developers who want a ready-made carousel and for sites that show image galleries or banner rotations. The source notes that its approach suggests a jQuery-style front end.
It is a weaker choice if your project is built on React or Vue and cannot take a jQuery-style dependency, because the README reviewed here does not confirm framework integrations. Beginners without web development skills will also find setup hard, since it requires editing HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
If you want to compare options, Swiper, Splide, Flickity and Glide.js are comparable projects.
What people use it for
- Rotating banners on a homepage
- Image galleries on a product or portfolio page
- A row of cards that visitors can swipe through
- Adding a ready-made carousel to an existing jQuery-style site
Frequently asked questions
Is Slick free to use?
Yes. Slick is published under the MIT license, which the source describes as allowing teams to modify it freely. Read the LICENSE file in the repository for the full terms.
What are the requirements for Slick?
The README reviewed for this guide lists no prerequisites. You will need Git to clone the repository and a web page where you can edit HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
How do I install Slick?
The source gives one install step: clone the repository with git clone https://github.com/kenwheeler/slick.git. The build and setup steps were cut off in the source, so follow the README in the cloned folder.
Does Slick work with React or Vue?
The README reviewed here does not confirm framework integrations. If your project uses React or Vue and cannot take a jQuery-style dependency, consider a framework-native option.
What are alternatives to Slick?
Comparable projects named in the source are Swiper, Splide, Flickity and Glide.js. Compare them on licence, framework support and how easy they are to set up for your project.
Why won't my Slick carousel work?
The source does not include troubleshooting steps. Check that the built files are included in your page, confirm the carousel is initialised on your items, and review the README and the homepage at kenwheeler.github.io/slick.
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Our verdict
Slick suits front-end developers who want an MIT-licensed, ready-made carousel for galleries, banners or cards and can work with a jQuery-style approach. Pick a framework-native component or a more beginner-friendly option if you use React or Vue, or if you are new to editing HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Install options & downloads