Carousel UXs: How and when to use them effectively

Carousels have become a controversial element in UX design due to their declining effectiveness and potential to harm user engagement, as research shows they often fail to capture users' attention and can hinder accessibility and website performance. While carousels offer an organized way to display content like products or promotions, they are frequently critiqued for issues such as user interaction limitations, "banner blindness," and disruptive autoplay features. However, they can still enhance user experience in certain contexts, like ecommerce platforms where users actively browse products or platforms like Netflix where users expect to scroll through content. To use carousels effectively, best practices include controlling the number of items, ensuring accessibility, and optimizing for mobile. Alternatives like grid layouts, hero sections, cards, videos, and accordions can be more suitable depending on the website's goals and user needs. Ultimately, the decision to use carousels should be informed by user research and testing to ensure they contribute positively to the user experience.