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Another reason for choosing sidebar like functionality is that the number of tabs is effectively unlimited. I never understand why developers chose to use tabs
by po 16y ago
Another reason for choosing sidebar like functionality is that the number of tabs is effectively unlimited. I never understand why developers chose to use tabs for grouping lists of things that can grow unbounded. Eventually you get to a point where you are forced to:
- shrink the tabs ever smaller
- implement scrolling of tabs(!)
- limit creation of new tabs
- auto close them
Sidebars have none of these problems. Tabs should only be used when the number of items you have is known, limited, and ideally a small number.
- nooneelse 16y agoWell, even in the sidebar, with enough things, you can still have to scroll. It just looks nicer when you do.
- po 16y agoTrue but you can easily have 30-40 items in a list, all readable without having to scroll. Text labels are a small fixed height, but a long and widely variable width, so it makes sense to stack them rather than put them end-to-end. Also a scrolling pane is a standard UI element that is well accepted by users.
- nooneelse 16y agoAll agreed. That last comment of mine was a bout of pedantic-ness.