---
title: Thumbnail Carousel
date: 2023-12-17T12:23:00-08:00
author: Josh Magness
canonical_url: "https://designsystem.umd.edu/components/thumbnail-carousel"
section: Components
---
# Thumbnail Carousel

The Thumbnail Carousel is a collection of Standard Cards or People Cards. With its carousel format, more content fits in a limited space. 
A collection of 4 or more cards 
## Dos
- Use with 4 or more cards
- Use as an alternative to a card group to add variety to a page
- Use when there are cards with the same theme that need to be grouped together but stacking is not desired
- For best results, use images with the same aspect ratios in image slots
## Don'ts
- Avoid mixing image and non-image cards within a carousel
## Variations

[View component playground: Thumbnail Carousel](https://playground.designsystem.umd.edu/?path=/story/components-carousels-thumbnail-carousel--default)

## Accessibility

### Built in accessibility

**Keyboard Accessible**
Users are able to use the keyboard to navigate through the actionable elements using the ‘Tab’ key to navigate/focus and ‘Enter’ or ‘Spacebar’ to activate and focus can be moved away from the component. WCAG 2.1.1: Keyboard; WCAG 2.1.2: No Keyboard Trap This navigation is done in sequential and logical order when there are multiple call to actions grouped together. WCAG 2.4.3: Focus Order

**Hover and Focus State**
Each actionable element within the carousel (e.g., navigation arrows, call to action links) has distinct styling on hover and focus. This provides a visual cue to the user that the element is focused and an action can be taken. WCAG 1.4.13: Content on hover or focus

**Color Contrast**
A contrast ratio of at least 4:5:1 between text and background color is ensured to enhance readability WCAG 1.4.3: Contrast (minimum)

**Responsive**
The component scales in relation to the to the screen size to prevent truncating content and reflows properly when zoomed up to 200% without horizontal scrolling WCAG 1.4.10: Reflow

### Requirements for use

**Image**
Provide effective alt text of the image that is concise and relevant. If the image is linked, the alt text should be succinct and descriptive of both the image and the linked content. Avoid phrases like “image of” since screen readers often already announce the type of element. WCAG 1.1: Text AlternativesDo not use an image to present text. True text should be used whenever possible, as it supports translation, is searchable, and is easier to maintain and customize.  WCAG 1.4.5: Images of Text

**Title**
Use a clear and concise title that describes the card content WCAG 2.4.6: Headings and Labels

**Image Caption**
Write caption text in clear and simple language. WCAG: 3.1.5: Reading Level 

## Content Recommendations

Recommended character limits
| Title | 40 characters (80 max) | 
| Text Block | 150 characters (300 max) | 
People Cards: Use abbreviations in titles or department information if content becomes overly crowded.

## Layout

[View Figma design: Carousel - People](https://www.figma.com/design/YqgNlOMETaJbcI67sv8HUp/Downloadable-Components-File?node-id=117-9755&t=YqcFeNQSvgtzxlow-1)