11 CSS Tabs Design Examples
Tabs are one of those UI components that benefit most from a well-crafted interaction. These 11 examples show different approaches, from minimal sliding effects to animated card transitions and elastic borders.
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Sliding tabs
Minimalist tab component where the active indicator slides smoothly under the selected tab. Pure CSS, no JavaScript needed.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
Dependencies:
SCSS
View Code and Demo
CSS tabs
Tab bar with a gradient underline indicator that matches the color of the active tab title, creating a cohesive visual identity.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
Dependencies:
None
View Code and Demo
Tabs with icons
Tab group that combines icons and labels. The active state uses a vibrant color accent that makes the selected tab immediately recognizable.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
Dependencies:
SCSS
View Code and Demo
Fluid tab
Tab switcher with a stretchy elastic animation on the active indicator. The indicator deforms and snaps between tabs, giving the interaction a satisfying physical feel.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Dependencies:
Sass
JQuery
View Code and Demo
Flying cards tabs
Card-style tabs where switching panels triggers a flying animation. The cards overlap and stack in motion before settling into place.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Dependencies:
SCSS
JQuery
View Code and Demo
Vertical CSS tabs
Vertical tab layout with a clean sidebar-style design. Rounded corners, subtle shadows, and a clear active state make it easy to adapt to dashboards or settings panels.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
Dependencies:
None
View Code and Demo
Elastic tabs
Pill-shaped tabs with an elastic border that stretches and bounces as you switch between items. The springy motion adds personality without being distracting.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Dependencies:
JQuery
View Code and Demo
Sticky tabs navigation
Full-page navigation pattern where tabs stick to the top on scroll. Clicking a tab smoothly scrolls to the corresponding content section.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Dependencies:
SCSS
JQuery
View Code and Demo
Folder tab navigation
Vertical tabs styled as physical folder tabs. Each tab expands on hover with a smooth open animation, ideal for full-page layouts.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
Dependencies:
SCSS
View Code and Demo
Tabs with elastic border
React-based tabs where the active indicator border morphs elastically when switching panels. The border deforms before settling, creating a fluid and modern feel.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Dependencies:
SCSS
React
View Code and Demo
Scrollable tabs
Horizontally scrollable tab bar for when you have more tabs than screen space. Useful for mobile-first interfaces or content-heavy dashboards.
Made with:
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Dependencies:
SCSS
View Code and Demo
Looking for more CSS inspiration? Browse our full collection of CSS examples.