> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/elements-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/elements-docs/using-elements/components/navigation-and-interaction/tabs.md). # Tabs The Tabs component displays one content panel at a time while keeping related sections easy to reach. Each tab has a title, optional SVG icon, and content drop zone. {% hint style="info" %} All tab content is loaded with the page, so it remains available to search engines and assistive technologies. {% endhint %} ### How to Use Tabs You’ll find Tabs under **Interactive** in the Components list. 1. Drag **Tabs** onto the page. 2. Add items to the **Tabs** collection. 3. Give each item a Title and optional Icon. 4. Use **Active Tab** to select the panel you are editing. 5. Choose the default active tab and style the list, buttons, titles, icons, and content. ### Component Settings #### Settings **Tabs** adds, removes, and reorders tab items. Each collection item has a Title and Icon. **Default Active Tab** sets the initially selected tab and defaults to 1. **Active Tab** selects the tab shown in Edit mode and also defaults to 1. #### Tab List **Alignment** offers Start, Centre, or End and defaults to Start. **Gap** defaults to theme spacing 1 and **Padding** to 0. **Background** defaults to None and **Border Radius** to None. #### Tab Button Use **State** to edit Inactive, Active, and Hover styles. Each state has Background, Text Color, Shadow, Border Width, Border Color, and Border Radius. Defaults: * **Inactive** — Surface 100 background, Text 50, no shadow or border, Medium radius. * **Active** — Brand 500 background, Surface 50 text, no shadow or border, Brand 500 border colour, Medium radius. * **Hover** — Surface 300 background, Text 50, no shadow or border, Surface 300 border colour, Medium radius. **Padding** defaults to theme spacing 2 vertically and 4 horizontally. #### Tab Title Font defaults to Body. Use **State** to edit Inactive, Active, and Hover Size, Weight, Spacing, Line Height, and Underline. Size defaults to Base for every state. Weights default to 400, 500, and 400. Spacing and line height default to Normal, and Underline is off. #### Tab Icon **Show Icon** is enabled by default. **Position** offers Left, Right, or Top and defaults to Left. **Gap** defaults to theme spacing 2. **Remove Attributes** controls whether Size, Fill, Stroke, and Styles are removed from each SVG. All four are enabled by default. Use **State** to edit Inactive, Active, and Hover icon styles: * **Size** — Defaults to `20px`. * **Fill Color and Opacity** — Defaults to Text 50 for Inactive/Hover, Surface 50 for Active, and 100% opacity. * **Stroke Color, Opacity, and Width** — Defaults to None, 100%, and 0. #### Tab Content Set Padding, Background, Border Width, Border Color, and Border Radius. Defaults are theme spacing 4, no background or border, Surface 200 border colour, and no radius. #### Tab Content Above **Show** is off by default. When enabled, it creates an additional shared area above the active tab content and reveals its Padding, Background, Border Width, Border Color, and Border Radius controls. Defaults match Tab Content. ### Accessibility Use short, descriptive titles and keep the active, hover, and keyboard focus states distinct. Do not use icons without text unless their meaning is unmistakable. ### Tips and Best Practices * **Keep the set small:** Too many tabs become difficult to scan on narrow screens. * **Use parallel content:** Tabs work best for sections at the same conceptual level. * **Check icon attributes:** Disable only the Remove Attributes switches needed to preserve intentional SVG styling. ### Related Components * [Accordion](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/navigation-and-interaction/accordion.md) — Better for vertically stacked questions or sections. * [Content Slider](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/navigation-and-interaction/content-slider.md) — Adds sequential or automatic playback. | Common Control | Description | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [Link](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/link.md) | Link to a page, resource, anchor, email address, or website. | | [Layout](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/layout.md) | Control positioning, stacking, visibility, overflow, and isolation. | | [Sizing](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/sizing.md) | Set width, height, and responsive size constraints. | | [Spacing](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/spacing.md) | Add responsive margin and padding. | | [Typography & Text Styles](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/typography-and-text-styles.md) | Control fonts, text spacing, decoration, colour, and semantic wrappers. | | [Backgrounds](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/backgrounds.md) | Apply colour, image, gradient, SVG, video, and hover backgrounds. | | [Transitions](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/transitions.md) | Choose what animates and set its timing curve, duration, and delay. | | [Effects](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/effects.md) | Apply shadows, opacity, and hover effects. | | [Filters](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/filters.md) | Apply blur, brightness, saturation, shadow, and backdrop effects. | | [Transforms](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/transforms.md) | Scale, rotate, move, and skew components. | | [Borders](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/borders.md) | Set border style, colour, opacity, width, radius, and hover states. | | [Advanced](/elements-docs/using-elements/components/common-controls/advanced.md) | Add CSS classes and IDs, or change supported HTML tags. | --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/elements-docs/using-elements/components/navigation-and-interaction/tabs.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.