Tab Component with :checked Hack vs JS
Implement a tab interface using the CSS :checked technique and compare it to a JavaScript approach.
Tab Component Requirements
A tab component needs: visual indicator of the active tab, associated panel shown/hidden on selection, keyboard navigation between tabs, and accessible ARIA attributes. These can be achieved with pure CSS using the :checked hack or with JavaScript for better accessibility.
The :checked Hack
Hidden radio inputs act as state: each tab is a <label> linked to a radio input. When a radio is checked, CSS sibling combinators show the corresponding panel and style the active tab label. Zero JavaScript required.
input[type="radio"]:checked + label { border-bottom: 2px solid var(--color-primary); }
input#tab-1:checked ~ #panel-1 { display: block; }All lessons in this course
- Card Component with CSS Custom Properties
- Modal and Dialog Styling
- Dropdown and Popover Patterns
- Tab Component with :checked Hack vs JS