How do I add Prev/Next buttons to a Webflow Tab Component to create a slider?

You can turn a Webflow Tab Component into a slider-like experience by adding Prev/Next buttons that trigger tab changes with custom interactions.

1. Structure Your Tabs Correctly

• Use a standard Tabs component in Webflow.
• Ensure the Tabs Menu contains each Tab Link (e.g., Tab 1, Tab 2, etc.).
• Populate each Tab Pane with your desired content.

2. Add Prev/Next Buttons

• Place two buttons outside or inside your Tabs component—label them Prev and Next.
• Give each button a custom class (e.g., .prev-button, .next-button) to easily reference them in interactions.

3. Add Unique IDs to Tab Links

• Select each Tab Link inside the Tabs Menu.
• In the Element Settings panel, give each Tab Link a unique ID (e.g., tab-1, tab-2, etc.).
• Keep track of the order (Tab Link 1 = tab-1, Tab Link 2 = tab-2, etc.).

4. Use Webflow Interactions to Add Click Logic

• Go to Interactions → Element Trigger → Mouse Click (Tap) for the Next button.

• Create a new interaction:

• Use the Custom Code → Run JavaScript step.

• Add inline JavaScript to simulate a click on the next Tab Link.

  Example:

• For Next button: document.querySelector('.w--tab-active').nextElementSibling?.click();

• For Prev button: document.querySelector('.w--tab-active').previousElementSibling?.click();

  Note: This assumes your Tab Links are side-by-side inside the Tabs Menu. If not, you'll need to reference them via ID or index.

5. Handle Edge Cases (Optional)

• For looping behavior (e.g., going from last tab to first), add more complex JavaScript conditionals.
• Example logic:
• If current tab is last, go to first.
• If current tab is first and prev is clicked, go to last.

6. Test Responsiveness and Accessibility

• Ensure buttons are accessible and work across all devices.
• Add aria-labels to improve screen reader support.

Summary

To make Prev/Next buttons control a Webflow Tab Component like a slider, add custom buttons and use JavaScript in Interactions to simulate clicks on adjacent tab links. This approach mimics slider behavior while staying within the native Tabs structure.