Tabbed browsing - Definition and Overview

In graphical user interfaces in computer applications, a tabbed document interface (TDI) is one that relies on tabbed panes to hold child windows. This style of interface may work in conjunction with a full Multiple Document Interface (MDI) or as an alternative. In the latter case, it is more limited than MDI: it is only possible to display only one child window at a time in the parent window; they cannot be tiled or cascaded.

Internet web browsers are notable for implementing this kind of interface (called tabbed browsing), an approach pioneered by NetCaptor, an alternative interface to Microsoft Internet Explorer. It was soon followed by Opera 4 in March 2000 (before this Opera only allowed MDI without tabs) and tabbed browsing was subsequently adopted by Mozilla and a number of others. As of February 2004, most current graphical web browsers, with the notable exception of Microsoft Internet Explorer, natively support a TDI. Software, such as the freeware Crazy Browser, is available to add a TDI around Internet Explorer. OmniWeb version 5, released August 2004, includes visual tabbed browsing which displays preview images of pages in a drawer to the left or right of the main browser window.

One important advantage of the tabbed document interface is that it holds many different documents logically under the one window, instead of holding a lot of small child windows, though, if too many documents are open, the tabs can be rather difficult to manage or label. Another is that sets of related documents can be grouped within each of several windows.

Example programs

Browsers

• Opera
• Mozilla
• Mozilla Firefox
• Netscape
• Camino
• Safari
• Konqueror
• OmniWeb
• Epiphany
• Kazehakase
• Konsole
• ELinks
• Avant

Editors

• Microsoft Excel
• Visual Studio .NET
• Crimson Editor
• Editpad
• EditPlus
• NoteTab
• UltraEdit

Instant Messengers

• Gaim
• Adium

See also

• Multiple document interface
• Single document interface