Lemma
No. 092

UI Design

Tabs

Tabs are a set of labeled controls that let people switch between related views shown in the same area of the screen. Only one view is visible at a time.

Why it matters

Tabs save space and keep related content in one place, so people can move between views without losing their spot. Knowing when they fit helps you avoid hiding things people need to compare.

In depth

Tabs work best for switching the same kind of content by category or time, not for jumping to unrelated parts of a product — that is navigation's job. Because only one view shows at a time, tabs are a poor choice when people need to compare two sections side by side. In that case an accordion or a layout that reveals multiple sections at once usually serves better.

Real-world example

A weather app uses tabs labeled Today, Hourly, and Weekly to show the same forecast filtered by time, all in one panel.

Try it
Clear skies, high of 24°. A calm, bright day.
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