Microscope glass slides are utilized to hold objects under the microscope for examination purposes. It looks like a thin flat piece of glass with typical height dimensions of 3 by 1 inches and thickness of 1 mm. The object to be examined is placed on the microscope glass slide. It usually has a thin cover glass to cover the object. Once the specimen is covered, both are then mounted onto the microscope for viewing.  

Slide clamps, clips or cross-table hold the glass slides in place on the microscope's stage. Holding the slides is necessary so as to achieve very less movement and precise view of the specimen. This arrangement permits the slides containing objects to be rapidly put in and removed from the microscope. The slides are generally labeled to identify the object.