Seletabs

Seletabs is a user interface pattern that presents a horizontal row of labeled controls allowing users to switch between different content views or filter results by selecting a tab. When a tab is activated, the corresponding content panel is shown while other panels are hidden. The term is often used to describe a customizable form of tabbed navigation that can incorporate both navigation and filtering behavior in a single control set.

Origins and usage context: Seletabs appear in UI design discussions and framework documentation as a practical approach for organizing related content in dashboards, editors, and settings pages. Variants vary by platform and framework, with some implementations emphasizing simple tab switching and others adding responsive behaviors or integrated filtering.

Variants and responsive behavior: Common variants include standard tab bars, scrollable tabs on smaller screens, and scenarios where on narrow viewports the tab set is replaced by a dropdown select mirroring the active tab. Another variation uses selectable elements that behave like tabs but also reflect additional filtering states or data views.

Accessibility and implementation: Accessible seletabs typically employ ARIA roles and properties such as role="tablist", role="tab", and role="tabpanel", with aria-selected to indicate the active tab and keyboard support (Arrow keys, Home, End) for navigation. Implementations can range from semantic HTML with CSS and minimal JavaScript to more complex components within UI libraries, ensuring focus management and visible active states.

Use cases and considerations: Seletabs are suitable for organizing related content, enabling quick switching between views, or applying mutually exclusive filters. Design considerations include clear active states, adequate contrast, touch-friendly targets, and responsive layouts to maintain usability across devices.

See also: Tabbed interface, UI pattern, accessible design.