Tab
A navigation element in Salesforce that provides quick access to an object's home page, app, web URL, Lightning component, or Visualforce page, appearing in the navigation bar or App Launcher.
Definition
A navigation element in Salesforce that provides quick access to an object's home page, app, web URL, Lightning component, or Visualforce page, appearing in the navigation bar or App Launcher.
In plain English
“A Tab in Salesforce is a navigation element that provides quick access to an object's home page, app, web URL, Lightning component, or Visualforce page. Tabs appear in the navigation bar or App Launcher and are how users navigate to different parts of Salesforce.”
Worked example
The admin at Driftwood Resorts builds a custom Subscription object to track members of the resort's loyalty program. To make the object accessible from the Lightning navigation bar, she creates a Tab pointing at Subscription with a custom icon. She then adds the Tab to the Sales App's navigation, so AEs see Subscriptions alongside Accounts and Opportunities. A second Tab in the same Setup area is a Web Tab - pointing at the resort's external loyalty-program admin portal - so support reps can launch that portal in one click without bookmarking a URL. Tabs are the bridge between the data model (objects) and the user experience (navigation).
Why Tab matters
A Tab is a navigation element in Salesforce that provides quick access to an object's home page, app, web URL, Lightning component, or Visualforce page, appearing in the navigation bar or App Launcher. Tabs are the primary navigation mechanism for accessing different objects and features in Salesforce.
Tabs come in several types: Object Tabs (for standard and custom objects), Web Tabs (linking to URLs), Visualforce Tabs, Lightning Component Tabs, and Canvas Tabs. Admins control tab visibility per app and per profile, ensuring users see tabs relevant to their role. Mature orgs configure tabs thoughtfully to reduce navigation clutter.
How organizations use Tab
Configures tab visibility per app and profile for role-appropriate navigation.
Uses custom tabs for Lightning components and web resources accessed frequently.
Treats tab configuration as part of user experience design.
Trust & references
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Tab.
- Create Custom TabsSalesforce Help
🧠 Test your knowledge
Q1. What is a Tab?
Q2. What types of tabs exist?
Q3. How do you control visibility?
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