A slider-crank linkage is a four-link mechanism with three revolute joints and one prismatic, or sliding, joint. The rotation of the crank drives the linear movement of the slider, or the expansion of gases against a sliding piston in a cylinder can drive the rotation of the crank.

A slider-crank is a four-bar linkage that has a crank that rotates coupled to a slider that moves along a straight line. This mechanism is composed of three important parts: The crank which is the rotating disc, the slider which slides inside the tube and the connecting rod which joins the parts together.

Slider crank chain: This is a kinematic chain having four links. It has one sliding pair and three turning pairs. Link 2 has rotary motion and is called crank. Link 3 has got combined rotary and reciprocating motion and is called connecting rod. Link 4 has reciprocating motion and is called slider. Link 1 is frame (fixed).

Slider-crank mechanism, arrangement of mechanical parts designed to convert straight-line motion to rotary motion, as in a reciprocating piston engine, or to convert rotary motion to straight-line motion, as in a reciprocating piston pump.

A single slider crank chain is a modification of the basic four-bar chain. It consist of one sliding pair and three turning pairs. It is, usually, found in reciprocating steam engine mechanism. This type of mechanism converts rotary motion into reciprocating motion and vice versa.