Tab Bar
A row of top-level destinations, usually at the bottom on mobile, that lets users switch between the main sections of an app with one tap.
Why it matters
The tab bar is a promise: these are the places this app can take you, and they are always one tap away. That promise breaks the moment you overload it — six cramped icons, a 'More' tab hiding half the product — or repurpose a slot for an action instead of a destination. If your team is fighting over the fifth slot, the argument is really about what the product is for.
The component
Four destinations, one tap each — and notice the bar never asks you to remember where you are.
The numbers
- 3 to 5 destinations — Apple's Human Interface Guidelines cap for a tab bar
- 44x44 pt minimum per tab, the standard iOS touch target
Related terms
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