A sliding mode controller is developed for uncertain time‐delay systems with a class of nonlinear inputs. Two main results are derived in this paper. The first result is the presentation of a new delay‐dependent stability condition of uncertain time‐delay systems. In a comparison example, this stability condition is shown to be less conservative than the ones reported recently. The second result is to present a new sliding mode control for uncertain time‐delay systems subjected to a class of nonlinear inputs. The stability of time‐delay systems with unmatching condition in the sliding mode is also discussed. Two illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the superiority of the obtained results. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.