# Tab bars

Source: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/tab-bars
Skill: hig-components-layout
Snapshot: 2025-02-02

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<!-- hig-doctor:attribution -->
> **Source**: Apple Inc. Canonical content at https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/tab-bars.
> This file is a structured index of that content, snapshot 2025-02-02.
> Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc.; this repository provides organization and cross-referencing for AI agent consumption only.

# Tab bars

## Best practices

**Use a tab bar to support navigation, not to provide actions.**

**Make sure the tab bar is visible when people navigate to different sections of your app.**

**Use the appropriate number of tabs required to help people navigate your app.**

**Avoid overflow tabs.**

**Don’t disable or hide tab bar buttons, even when their content is unavailable.**

**Include tab labels to help with navigation.**

**Consider using SF Symbols to provide familiar, scalable tab bar icons.**

**Use a badge to indicate that critical information is available.**

**Avoid applying a similar color to tab labels and content layer backgrounds.**

## Platform considerations

### iPadOS

  * Tab bar 
  * Sidebar 

**Prefer a tab bar for navigation.**

**Let people customize the tab bar.**

### tvOS

  * Specify a tint, color, or image for the tab bar background

  * Choose a font for tab items, including a different font for the selected item

  * Specify tints for selected and unselected items

  * Add button icons, like settings and search

**Be aware of tab bar scrolling behaviors.**

**In a live-viewing app, organize tabs in a consistent way.**

  * Live content

  * Cloud DVR or other recorded content

  * Other content

### visionOS

**Supply a symbol and a text label for each tab.**

**If it makes sense in your app, consider using a sidebar within a tab.**

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For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/tab-bars