Slide vs. Slider: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 18, 2023
A "slide" refers to a flat piece or movement, while a "slider" is a mechanism or control that slides.
Key Differences
Slide often refers to a flat piece of material, typically rectangular, that is used for displaying information, especially in presentations. For instance, in a PowerPoint presentation, each visual page is termed as a slide. In contrast, a slider generally pertains to a mechanism or control, often found in electronic devices or software, that moves or can be moved linearly to adjust or select a value.
In a more physical context, to slide is the action of moving smoothly along a surface, often with continuous contact. Children might slide down a playground slide, which is an inclined plane designed for play. Conversely, a slider can refer to something or someone that slides, particularly in the context of sports. For example, in baseball, a slider is a type of pitch.
From a technological standpoint, a slide might be an individual frame or image in a slideshow or a filmstrip. It's meant for projection onto a screen. Meanwhile, a slider in technology, especially in user interfaces, allows users to adjust values by moving a knob or level across a scale, like adjusting the brightness on a screen.
Slide can also be used metaphorically, referring to a decrease or deterioration in quality, value, or condition, as in "a slide in performance." On the other hand, slider in some regions might refer to a small sandwich or burger, typically smaller than the regular size.
Historically, a slide might refer to a flat piece of glass onto which an object is placed for examination under a microscope. Conversely, a slider in some windows is a pane that moves horizontally to open and close the window.
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Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
A flat piece or movement.
A mechanism or control that slides.
Physical Context
The action of moving smoothly on a surface.
Something or someone that slides.
Technological Context
An individual frame or image in a slideshow.
A control in user interfaces to adjust values.
Metaphorical Use
Refers to a decrease or deterioration.
Refers to a small sandwich or burger.
Historical Reference
A piece of glass for microscope examination.
A pane in windows that moves horizontally.
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Slide and Slider Definitions
Slide
An individual frame in a slideshow.
This slide shows the quarterly sales.
Slider
Something or someone that slides, especially in sports.
He threw a perfect slider in the last inning.
Slide
To move over a surface while maintaining smooth continuous contact.
Slider
A mechanism or control that slides.
The volume slider on the speaker is quite smooth.
Slide
To participate in a sport that involves such movement
Sliding for a medal in luge.
Slider
A control in software to adjust values.
Use the brightness slider to adjust the screen's luminance.
Slide
To lose a secure footing or positioning; slip
Slid on the ice and fell.
Slider
A moving pane in a window.
The slider in the living room window is jammed.
Slide
To pass smoothly and quietly; glide
Slid past the door without anyone noticing.
Slider
One that slides
The snowy hill was filled with young sliders.
Slide
(Baseball) To drop down from a running into a lying or diving position when approaching a base so as to avoid being tagged out.
Slider
(Baseball) A fast pitch released with the index and middle fingers close together and slightly off center so that it breaks in the same direction as a curve ball as it approaches the plate.
Slide
To be ignored or not dealt with; drop
Let the matter slide.
Slider
A small hamburger served on a small bun, usually as a snack or appetizer.
Slide
To decrease
Prices slid in morning trading.
Slider
Any of various turtles of the genus Trachemys, especially T. scripta subsp. elegans of North America, having a red stripe behind the eye and often kept as a pet.
Slide
To become less favorable or less desirable
Economic conditions have begun to slide.
Slider
Agent noun of slide: one who slides.
Slide
To cause to slide or slip
Slid the glass down to the other end of the counter.
Slider
A sliding door.
Slide
To place covertly or deftly
Slid the stolen merchandise into his pocket.
Slider
(baseball) A pitch thrown with added pressure by middle and ring fingers yielding a combination of backspin and sidespin, resulting in a motion to the left when thrown by a right handed pitcher.
The closer had a wicked slider that was almost unhittable.
Slide
A sliding movement or action.
Slider
(cricket) A similar delivery in which the wrist and ring finger work to impart backspin to the ball.
Slide
A smooth, usually inclined surface or track for sliding
A water slide.
Slider
A small hamburger.
We ordered five sliders.
Slide
A playground apparatus for children to slide on, typically consisting of a smooth chute climbed onto by means of a ladder.
Slider
(curling) A piece of Teflon or similar material attached to a curling shoe that allows the player to slide along the ice.
Slide
A part that operates by sliding, as the U-shaped section of tube on a trombone that is moved to change the pitch.
Slider
The movable part of a zip fastener that opens or closes the row of teeth.
Slide
A period of decline or loss
"The semiconductor industry is heading for a cyclical slide" (New York Times).
Slider
(GUI) A widget allowing the user to select a value or position on a sliding scale.
Slide
An image on a transparent base for projection on a screen.
Slider
A slideshow on a web page.
Slide
One of a series of images projected digitally as part of a presentation.
Slider
The red-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys rubriventris, syn. Pseudemys rugosa).
Slide
A small glass plate for mounting specimens to be examined under a microscope.
Slider
(skydiving) A rectangle of fabric that helps produce an orderly parachute deployment.
Slide
A fall of a mass of rock, earth, or snow down a slope; an avalanche or landslide.
Slider
Synonym of slide
Slide
A backless shoe with an open toe.
Slider
An open-toed and backless sandal
Slide
A slight portamento used in violin playing, passing quickly from one note to another.
Slider
See Slidder.
Slide
An ornamentation consisting of two grace notes approaching the main note.
Slider
One who, or that which, slides; especially, a sliding part of an instrument or machine.
Slide
A small metal or glass tube worn over a finger or held in the hand, used in playing bottleneck-style guitar.
Slider
The red-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys rugosa).
Slide
The bottleneck style of guitar playing.
Slider
Any of several North American freshwater turtles of the genus Chrysemis; some, such as C. scripta are sold commercially as pets.
Slide
(ergative) To (cause to) move in continuous contact with a surface.
He slid the boat across the grass.
The safe slid slowly.
Snow slides down the side of a mountain.
Slider
A fast pitch that breaks slightly just in front of the batter, in the same direction as a curve ball (i. e. , away from the side from which it was thrown).
Slide
(intransitive) To move on a low-friction surface.
The car slid on the ice.
Slider
A person who slips or slides because of loss of traction
Slide
To drop down and skid into a base.
Jones slid into second.
Slider
Someone who races the luge
Slide
(intransitive) To lose one’s balance on a slippery surface.
He slid while going around the corner.
Slider
Freshwater turtle of United States and South America; frequently raised commercially; some young sold as pets
Slide
(transitive) To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip.
To alter the meaning of a question by sliding in a word
Schoolchildren sometimes slide each other notes during class.
Slider
A fastball that curves slightly away from the side from which it was thrown
Slide
(transitive) To subtly direct a facial expression at (someone).
He slid me a dirty look.
Slider
A small sandwich or burger.
I ordered a set of beef sliders for appetizers.
Slide
To pass inadvertently.
Slide
(intransitive) To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance.
A ship or boat slides through the water.
Slide
To decrease in amount or value.
The stock market slid yesterday after major stocks released weak quarterly results.
Slide
(music) To smoothly pass from one note to another by bending the pitch upwards or downwards.
Slide
(regional) To ride down snowy hills upon a toboggan or similar object for recreation.
Slide
To go; to move from one place or to another.
Slide
(soccer) To kick so that the ball slides along the ground with little or no turning.
Slide
An item of play equipment that children can climb up and then slide down again.
The long, red slide was great fun for the kids.
Slide
A surface of ice, snow, butter, etc. on which someone can slide for amusement or as a practical joke.
Slide
The falling of large amounts of rubble, earth and stones down the slope of a hill or mountain; avalanche.
The slide closed the highway.
Slide
An inclined plane on which heavy bodies slide by the force of gravity, especially one constructed on a mountainside for conveying logs by sliding them down.
Slide
A mechanism consisting of a part which slides on or against a guide.
Slide
The act of sliding; smooth, even passage or progress.
A slide on the ice
Slide
A lever that can be moved in two directions.
Slide
A valve that works by sliding, such as in a trombone.
Slide
(photography) A transparent plate bearing an image to be projected to a screen.
Slide
A page of a computer presentation package such as PowerPoint.
I still need to prepare some slides for my presentation tomorrow.
Slide
(sciences) A flat, usually rectangular piece of glass or similar material on which a prepared sample may be viewed through a microscope Generally referred to as a microscope slide.
Slide
(baseball) The act of dropping down and skidding into a base
Slide
A hand-held device made of smooth, hard material, used in the practice of slide guitar.
Slide
A lively dance from County Kerry, in 12/8 time.
Slide
(geology) A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure.
Slide
(music) A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below.
Slide
(phonetics) A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
Slide
A clasp or brooch for a belt, etc.
Slide
A pocket in one's pants (trousers).
With ten dollars in his slide
Slide
(footwear) A shoe that is backless and open-toed.
Slide
(speech therapy) A voluntary stutter used as a technique to control stuttering in one's speech.
Slide
A promiscuous woman, slut.
Slide
To move along the surface of any body by slipping, or without walking or rolling; to slip; to glide; as, snow slides down the mountain's side.
Slide
Especially, to move over snow or ice with a smooth, uninterrupted motion, as on a sled moving by the force of gravity, or on the feet.
They bathe in summer, and in winter slide.
Slide
To pass inadvertently.
Beware thou slide not by it.
Slide
To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance; as, a ship or boat slides through the water.
Ages shall slide away without perceiving.
Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole.
Slide
To slip when walking or standing; to fall.
Their foot shall slide in due time.
Slide
To pass from one note to another with no perceptible cassation of sound.
Slide
To pass out of one's thought as not being of any consequence.
With good hope let he sorrow slide.
With a calm carelessness letting everything slide.
Slide
To cause to slide; to thrust along; as, to slide one piece of timber along another.
Slide
To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip; as, to slide in a word to vary the sense of a question.
Slide
The act of sliding; as, a slide on the ice.
Slide
Smooth, even passage or progress.
A better slide into their business.
Slide
That on which anything moves by sliding.
Slide
That which operates by sliding.
Slide
A plate or slip of glass on which is a picture or delineation to be exhibited by means of a magic lantern, stereopticon, or the like; a plate on which is an object to be examined with a microscope.
Slide
The descent of a mass of earth, rock, or snow down a hill or mountain side; as, a land slide, or a snow slide; also, the track of bare rock left by a land slide.
Slide
A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure.
Slide
A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below.
Slide
A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
Slide
Same as Guide bar, under Guide.
Slide
A small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
Slide
(geology) the descent of a large mass of earth or rocks or snow etc.
Slide
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale;
The violinist was indulgent with his swoops and slides
Slide
Plaything consisting of a sloping chute down which children can slide
Slide
The act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it;
His slide didn't stop until the bottom of the hill
The children lined up for a coast down the snowy slope
Slide
A transparency mounted in a frame; viewed with a slide projector
Slide
Sloping channel through which things can descend
Slide
Move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner;
The wheels skidded against the sidewalk
Slide
To pass or move unobtrusively or smoothly;
They slid through the wicket in the big gate
Slide
Move smoothly along a surface;
He slid the money over to the other gambler
Slide
A flat piece used for displaying information.
I have prepared 20 slides for my presentation.
Slide
The action of moving smoothly on a surface.
The child had fun on the slide at the park.
Slide
A decrease or deterioration in value.
There's been a slide in the stock prices.
Slide
A piece of glass for microscope examination.
Place the sample on the slide for observation.
FAQs
Can "slide" refer to a decline?
Yes, "slide" can mean a decrease or deterioration, like in stock prices.
Can a slider control volume?
Yes, many devices have volume sliders to adjust sound levels.
Can one "slide" in dancing?
Yes, sliding movements are common in many dance forms.
Are slides only used in presentations?
No, slides can also refer to individual frames in filmstrips or items for microscopy.
What material is typically used for microscope slides?
Glass is the most common material for microscope slides.
Is a "slider" always smaller than regular size?
Often in the context of food, like burgers, a "slider" is smaller than the regular size.
Are slides always flat?
While slides are typically flat, especially in presentations, the term can also refer to inclined planes in playgrounds.
Are sliders limited to technology and food?
No, the term "slider" can also refer to moving parts in various mechanisms, like windows.
Can "slider" refer to a type of pitch in baseball?
Yes, a "slider" is a type of pitch in baseball known for its lateral movement.
Do all sliders move?
Typically, yes. A slider usually refers to a movable mechanism or control.
Can a slider be vertical?
Yes, sliders can be oriented vertically or horizontally.
Is "slide" used in photography?
Yes, it can refer to a transparency or individual frame in a filmstrip.
Are sliders interactive in digital interfaces?
Yes, users can interact with sliders to adjust values in digital interfaces.
Can "slide" mean to move without effort?
Yes, "slide" can suggest moving smoothly and effortlessly, like sliding into a comfortable position.
Does "slide" always indicate a downward movement?
No, "slide" primarily means smooth movement, which can be in any direction.
Can sliders be used in music?
Yes, some musical instruments, like slide trombones or guitars, utilize sliders or sliding techniques.
Can "slide" indicate slipping?
Yes, to "slide" can mean to unintentionally slip, like on ice.
Are sliders always manual?
No, while many sliders are manually adjusted, some, especially in digital interfaces, can be automated.
Can "slide" refer to a method of transportation?
Not typically, though the action of sliding, like on sleds, can be a mode of movement.
Are sliders present in websites?
Yes, many websites use slider controls for interactive features or image carousels.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
