Slide-in
A slide-in is a panel or message that animates in from a screen edge and layers over the page without a reload, e.g. a cart or signup.
What is a slide-in?
A slide-in is a panel or notification that animates into view from a screen edge — typically the side or bottom — and layers over the page without reloading it. Unlike a full modal popup, which drops a dark overlay across the whole screen, a slide-in occupies only part of the viewport, so the user keeps the context of the page underneath.
Why does a slide-in matter?
A slide-in is generally seen as less intrusive than a classic popup because it does not block the entire screen. That makes the format well suited to showing a cart, an offer, or a newsletter signup without pulling the customer out of the buying flow. Timed well, a slide-in can lift signups and average order value, while a poorly implemented one can cause layout shift (CLS) and annoy users on mobile.
Common use cases
- Slide-in cart (cart drawer): the cart slides in from the right when a customer adds an item, without leaving the product page.
- Newsletter signup: a discreet corner panel instead of a screen-covering popup.
- Upsell and cross-sell: related products or “frequently bought together” shown at add-to-cart.
- Notifications: free-shipping thresholds, stock status, or a time-limited CTA.
Shopify perspective
Shopify’s Dawn theme and most modern themes use a slide-in cart drawer that opens from the side. Adding slide-ins for signups or upsells is usually done via an app or custom code. Always test on mobile, make sure the panel can be dismissed with Esc and handles focus correctly, and split test triggers like scroll depth, delay, and exit intent so conversion never comes at the cost of the experience.