Adding Custom Next and Previous Arrows to a Webflow Tabs Component

In this tutorial, we will learn how to add custom next and previous arrows to a Webflow tabs component. Customizing elements on a website can add a unique touch and improve the user experience. We'll go through the process step by step, ensuring that even beginners in web development can follow along.

Introduction

Henry Ford's famous quote, "If we had asked clients what they wanted, they would have asked for a bigger logo," serves as the inspiration for this customization. Instead of just meeting basic client requests, we can enhance their website with custom elements like next and previous arrows on tabs.

Setting Up the Tabs Component

To begin, open your Webflow project and navigate to the page where you want to add the custom next and previous arrows to the tabs component.

1. Add a Tabs Wrapper: Drag a div element onto the page and name it "tabswrapper." This wrapper will contain the tabs component.

2. Place the Tabs Component Inside the Wrapper: Place the tabs component inside the "tabswrapper" div to contain the component effectively.

3. Position the Wrapper: Give the "tabswrapper" div a position of relative. This allows for proper positioning of the custom arrows inside the tabs component.

Adding Custom Arrows

Now, let's add the custom next and previous arrows to the tabs component.

1. Add Previous Arrow: Within the "tabswrapper" div, add another div and name it "tab prev" to represent the previous arrow.

2. Set Position for Previous Arrow: Since the arrows cannot be added directly inside the tabs component, we position the "tab prev" div absolutely. Set the position to be at the top left, aligning it with the left side of the tabs.

3. Styling the Previous Arrow: Define the width, height, and insert an image for the previous arrow. Choose an image that represents the previous action and customize the appearance by setting the cursor to a pointer, adjusting opacity, and adding a hover effect.

4. Add Next Arrow: Duplicate the previous arrow by copying and pasting the "tab prev" div. Rename it "tab next" to represent the next arrow.

5. Position the Next Arrow: Set the position for the "tab next" div to be at the top right, aligning it with the right side of the tabs. Replace the image with one that symbolizes the next action.

Implementing Custom Code

After adding the custom arrows, the next step is to implement custom code to make the arrows functional within the tabs component.

1. Copy Custom Code: A specific custom code is needed for the arrows to work properly. Copy the provided custom code for this functionality (insert link to the specific custom code) to enable next and previous actions within the tabs.

2. Paste Custom Code: Navigate to the page settings or project settings, if applicable, and paste the custom code in the in-body tag. Ensure that the code is properly placed and save the settings.

3. Publish Changes: After adding the custom code, save the changes and publish the website to see the custom arrows in action within the tabs component.

Adjusting Arrow Positioning

Upon publishing the changes, you may notice that the arrows are not perfectly positioned. Follow these steps to adjust their positioning for a more refined appearance.

1. Align Arrows with Tabs: Instead of directly positioning the "tab" element, adjust the positioning to 50. This ensures that the arrows scale across different screen sizes while maintaining alignment with the tabs.

2. Fine-tune Arrow Positioning: Modify the position of the arrows using a transformation to refine their alignment with the tabs. This may involve adjusting the horizontal position to ensure proper scaling across different screen sizes.

3. Finishing Touches: After making the necessary adjustments, publish the website again to see the improved positioning of the custom arrows within the tabs component.

Conclusion

Adding custom next and previous arrows to a Webflow tabs component enhances the functionality and visual appeal of the website. As Henry Ford famously said, "Please like and subscribe," and with that, you have successfully customized your tabs component with unique next and previous arrows. Keep exploring and stay tuned for more web development tutorials.