jquery ui tabs Complete Feature Overview

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Credit: pexels.com, A green and black interface with green and black buttons

JQuery UI tabs are a powerful tool for organizing and displaying content on a web page. They allow users to switch between different sections of content with a simple click.

One of the key benefits of JQuery UI tabs is their flexibility - they can be used to display a wide range of content, from simple text and images to complex widgets and forms.

JQuery UI tabs can be configured to match the needs of your specific project, with options for customizing the layout, colors, and behavior of the tabs.

With JQuery UI tabs, you can create a seamless user experience that engages and retains your audience.

Here's an interesting read: Css 2 Tabs Box

Getting Started

Tabs are generally used to break content into multiple sections that can be swapped to save space, much like an accordion.

To get started with jQuery UI tabs, you need to understand how they work by default. By default a tab widget will swap between tabbed sections onClick.

A fresh viewpoint: Tailwind Css Tabs

Credit: youtube.com, How to create Tabs Using jquery UI

You can change the events to onHover through an option, but it's not mentioned what specific option to use. Tab content can be loaded via Ajax by setting an href on a tab.

Be aware that tabs created dynamically using .tabs( "add", ... ) are given an id of ui-tabs-NUM, where NUM is an auto-incrementing id. This naming convention can cause problems if you use it for your own elements.

Readers also liked: Webflow Tabs

Customization

Customization is where the magic happens with jQuery UI Tabs. You can remove the header background with a simple CSS change.

To remove most of the formatting, you can also add CSS inline to your page. This will help you create a unique look for your tabs.

Some examples require more work, like removing the entire header or making the non-active tabs smaller. You'll need to use CSS to make these changes.

Here are some examples of customization options:

  • Remove the header background
  • Remove the entire header
  • Remove most of the formatting
  • Make the non-active tabs smaller
  • Add icons
  • Tabs like buttons
  • Centre the tabs
  • Align the tabs to the right
  • Move the tabs to the bottom
  • On the left and rotated vertically
  • On the right and rotated vertically
  • Nested horizontally and then vertically
  • Have a single line of tabs that scrolls

Options

Customization offers a range of options to suit different needs and preferences.

Credit: youtube.com, Customization Options

One of the key options is color customization, which allows users to choose from a palette of 12 distinct colors to match their brand or personal style. This can be done through a simple color picker tool, making it easy to find the perfect hue.

For users who prefer a more subtle approach, there's also the option to adjust font sizes and styles. This can be done on a per-element basis, giving users fine-grained control over the look and feel of their content.

Another option is the ability to add custom icons and graphics, which can be used to break up text and add visual interest to a page. This can be especially useful for users who want to create a more dynamic and engaging experience.

Users can also choose from a variety of layout options, including grid-based and free-form layouts. This allows them to create a design that's tailored to their specific needs and goals.

By offering these customization options, users can create a unique and personalized experience that reflects their brand or personality.

Styling

Jigsaw Tabs with Text on the Surface
Credit: pexels.com, Jigsaw Tabs with Text on the Surface

Styling is a key aspect of customization, and jQuery UI Tabs offer a wide range of options to achieve unique looks.

To remove the header background, you can simply add CSS to override the default styles. Similarly, removing the entire header is also possible with CSS changes.

For a more minimalist approach, you can remove most of the formatting by adding inline CSS to your page. This can give your tabs a clean and simple look.

If you want to make the non-active tabs smaller, you can achieve this with a simple CSS change. This can help draw attention to the active tab.

Adding icons to your tabs is another way to give them a personalized touch. This can be done by adding specific CSS styles to your page.

Tabs can also be styled to resemble buttons, which can be a great option for a more modern look. To achieve this, you'll need to add a background div before the tab content and a div wrapper around the tabs ul.

A unique perspective: Root Galaxy Tab 4

Man using smartphone in modern workspace, focusing on screen content.
Credit: pexels.com, Man using smartphone in modern workspace, focusing on screen content.

Here are some specific CSS changes you can make to style your tabs:

  • Remove the header background: add CSS to override default styles
  • Remove the entire header: add CSS to override default styles
  • Remove most of the formatting: add inline CSS to your page
  • Make the non-active tabs smaller: add CSS to change tab size
  • Add icons: add specific CSS styles to your page
  • Tabs like buttons: add background div and div wrapper

Theming

Theming is a crucial aspect of customization, and it's great that jQuery UI Tabs makes it easy to style its look and feel.

The jQuery UI Tabs plugin uses the jQuery UI CSS Framework to style its colors and background textures. You can use the ThemeRoller tool to create custom themes that are easy to build and maintain, and download them with just a few clicks.

If you need a deeper level of customization, you can modify the widget-specific classes referenced within the jquery.ui.tabs.css stylesheet. These classes are highlighted in bold, making it easy to identify what you need to change.

Intriguing read: Tailwind Css Class

Behavior

Behavior can be tailored to meet specific needs.

The default behavior of jQuery UI tabs is to use the first tab as the active one.

You can change the active tab by setting the active option to a specific index or a string that matches the tab's id.

In the example where the id of the first tab is "tabs-1", the active option would be set to "tabs-1".

Methods

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Credit: pexels.com, Close-up view of a Facebook webpage interface in a browser window.

The methods of tabs are quite versatile, and they can be used to control the behavior of your tabs in various ways. You can remove the tabs functionality completely using the `.tabs("destroy")` method.

To get or set any tabs option, you can use the `.tabs("option", optionName, [value])` method. If no value is specified, it will act as a getter. This method is useful when you need to customize the behavior of your tabs.

You can also use the `.tabs("option", options)` method to set multiple tabs options at once by providing an options object. This can save you a lot of time and effort when you need to make changes to multiple tabs.

Here are some of the methods that you can use to control the behavior of your tabs:

You can also use the `.tabs("add", url, label, [index])` method to add a new tab. The second argument is either a URL consisting of a fragment identifier only to create an in-page tab or a full url to turn the new tab into an Ajax (remote) tab.

Prevent Tab Switching on Click Depending on Form Validation

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Credit: pexels.com, Web banner with online information on computer

Returning false in the tabs select handler prevents the clicked tab from becoming selected.

This is a simple yet effective way to control tab switching.

By returning false, you're essentially telling the system to ignore the click event.

This approach can be particularly useful when you need to prevent tab switching on click depending on form validation.

For example, if a user clicks on a tab while a form is still being validated, you can use this method to prevent the tab from switching.

Returning false is a straightforward way to achieve this result.

It's a technique you can use to fine-tune your application's behavior and provide a better user experience.

Recommended read: Mern Full Form

Prevent FOUC Before Tabs Load

You can prevent a FOUC (Flash of Unstyled Content) by adding necessary classes to hide an inactive tab panel to the HTML right away. This approach may not be ideal for users with JavaScript disabled.

To achieve this, you can add the necessary classes to the HTML as soon as it loads. This will ensure that the tab panel is hidden until the tabs are initialized, preventing the FOUC.

For another approach, see: Convert Text to Html in Javascript

Viola Morissette

Assigning Editor

Viola Morissette is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a passion for curating high-quality content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for identifying emerging trends, she has successfully guided numerous articles to publication. Her expertise spans a wide range of topics, including technology and software tutorials, such as her work on "OneDrive Tutorials," where she expertly assigned and edited pieces that have resonated with readers worldwide.

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