How to Customize Slider Dots in Webflow

In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a 100% customized set of slider dots for your Webflow native slider. This customization will allow you to have full control over the appearance and functionality of the slider dots, providing a seamless user experience. We will cover the steps to achieve this customization using Webflow, without the need for extensive coding.

Setting Up the Environment

To begin with, let's take a look at the live example to understand the end result we aim to achieve. In the example, we have a native Webflow slider set to autoplay, with a custom set of slider dots. The custom slider dots not only display correctly during autoplay but also respond to manual clicks, providing a smooth transition between slides.

Customizing the Slider Dots

1. Designing the Custom Slider Dots

In the Webflow designer, start by adding a native Webflow slider component to your project. While the autoplay feature is optional, we'll be using it for this demonstration.

Next, create a custom class for the slider wrapper. In this example, the class is named "hack-nine-custom-nav-wrapper." The exact class name can vary based on your preference.

Now, create another custom class for the individual slider dots, such as "hack-nine-custom-dot." This class will allow complete flexibility in styling the slider dots to match your design requirements. You can set properties like height, margin, and other visual aspects to customize the appearance of the dots according to your design needs.

2. Defining the Active State

To indicate the active state of a slider dot, add an additional class, such as "active," to one of the custom dots. This class will specify the styling for the active state, such as a background color change. Additionally, apply transitions for height and background color changes to the non-active dots to ensure smooth transitions between the active and non-active states.

Once all the styling is in place, you can further customize the appearance of the active and non-active slider dots to align with your website's design.

Implementing Functionality

Having customized the appearance of the slider dots, the next step is to add functionality to these custom dots that will synchronize them with the Webflow native slider.

3. Binding the Custom Dots to the Native Slider

To establish the connection between the custom slider dots and the native Webflow slider, we use JavaScript. Here's how it works:

<script>  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {    const customDots = document.querySelectorAll('.hack-nine-custom-dot');        customDots.forEach((dot, index) => {      dot.addEventListener('click', function() {        // Remove active class from the previous active dot        document.querySelector('.hack-nine-custom-dot.active').classList.remove('active');                // Add active class to the clicked dot        dot.classList.add('active');                // Tap the equivalent webflow dot        document.querySelectorAll('.w-slider-dot')[index].click();      });    });  });</script>

Here's a breakdown of the code:

• We listen for the DOMContentLoaded event to ensure the entire document has been loaded before we start adding functionality to the custom dots.
• We select all the custom dots using the class "hack-nine-custom-dot" and store them in the customDots variable.
• For each custom dot, we add a click event listener. When a dot is clicked, we remove the active class from the previously active dot, add the active class to the clicked dot, and simulate a click on the equivalent webflow dot using the .click() method.

By implementing this code, clicking on a custom dot will trigger a corresponding click event on the native Webflow dot, ensuring synchronization between the custom dots and the slider.

4. Handling Autoplay Functionality

If your Webflow slider is set to autoplay, additional code is needed to ensure that the custom dots respond to the automatic slide changes. Here's a modified version of the JavaScript code to handle autoplay functionality:

<script>  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {    // ... (previous code)    // Create the mutation observer to handle autoplay changes    const observer = new MutationObserver(function(mutations) {      mutations.forEach(function(mutation) {        if (mutation.type === 'attributes' && mutation.attributeName === 'class') {          // Remove active class from the previous active dot          document.querySelector('.hack-nine-custom-dot.active').classList.remove('active');                    // Get the index of the active webflow dot          const activeIndex = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('.w-slide.w-active')).findIndex(slide => slide.classList.contains('w-active'));                    // Add active class to the corresponding custom dot          document.querySelectorAll('.hack-nine-custom-dot')[activeIndex].classList.add('active');        }      });    });    // Define the function to set up the observer    function setObserver() {      customDots.forEach(dot => observer.observe(dot, { attributes: true, attributeFilter: ['class'] }));    }    // Set up the observer to track class changes    setObserver();  });</script>

The updated code introduces a MutationObserver that listens for class changes on the Webflow slider dots. When a dot becomes active due to an autoplay transition, the corresponding custom dot will also receive the active class, ensuring visual synchronization between the two. This completes the functionality for both manual interaction and autoplay changes.

By following these steps, you can seamlessly integrate a fully customized set of slider dots into your Webflow native slider, providing a tailored user experience that matches your design and functional requirements.

Conclusion

Customizing slider dots for your Webflow projects can significantly elevate the visual appeal and user experience of your sliders. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can effortlessly create and integrate a bespoke set of slider dots that align perfectly with your design vision and functional needs.

We hope this tutorial has provided valuable insights into customizing slider dots in Webflow and that you can apply these techniques to enhance your own Webflow projects. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to explore the resources available on the Webflow platform or reach out to the supportive Webflow community for guidance.

Remember, Webflow offers endless possibilities for creative expression and functional customization, and with the right knowledge and techniques, you can unlock the full potential of the platform to bring your design visions to life.