Tabs Block – Responsive Gutenberg Tabs for Block Editor

Description

Build Accessible, Responsive Tabs in the Gutenberg Block Editor

Tabs Block for Gutenberg lets you add beautiful, responsive, and accessible tabbed content directly in the WordPress Block Editor no coding or external libraries required.

Whether you’re building a documentation page, a product features section, or a clean tabbed layout for content organization, this plugin helps you do it quickly and natively.

Why Choose BlaBlaBlocks Tabs Block?

The Tabs Block plugin combines modern WordPress standards with ease of use. Built using the WordPress Interactivity API, it ensures lightweight performance, accessibility, and full compatibility with the latest versions of WordPress.

Key Highlights

  • Accessible Tabs: WCAG-compliant markup, ARIA roles, and keyboard navigation support.
  • Zero Dependencies: No jQuery or heavy JS frameworks powered by the Interactivity API.
  • Responsive by Default: Tabs automatically stack or scroll on smaller screens.
  • Horizontal & Vertical Layouts: Switch between tab orientations with one click.
  • Ready-to-Use Templates: Choose from prebuilt designs to jump-start your layout.
  • Seamless Block Editor Integration: Looks, feels, and behaves like a native WordPress block.

Key Features

1. Fully Accessible

Accessibility isn’t optional — it’s built in. Tabs Block follows WCAG 2.1 guidelines and adds:

  • ARIA attributes for screen readers.
  • Tab focus management for keyboard users.
  • Semantic markup that works with assistive technologies.

2. Responsive by Design

No need for custom CSS or media queries. Tabs automatically adapt their layout across screen sizes:

  • On desktop: clean horizontal tab navigation.
  • On mobile: collapsible stacked layout or swipe-enabled scrolling.

3. Horizontal & Vertical Tabs

Want sidebar-style navigation? Just toggle layout mode. You can switch between horizontal and vertical tabs at any time, perfect for documentation pages or feature lists.

4. Powered by the Interactivity API

Unlike most tab plugins that rely on JavaScript frameworks, BlaBlaBlocks Tabs Block uses WordPress’s native Interactivity API.
That means:

  • Faster loading and rendering.
  • Better Core Web Vitals scores.
  • Seamless state management between editor and frontend.

5. Ready-to-Use Templates

Save time with built-in templates. Choose from multiple tab styles (minimal, boxed, underlined, colored) and insert them with one click.

6. Works Everywhere

Tabs Block is fully compatible with:

  • Block Themes (Full Site Editing)
  • Classic Themes using the Block Editor
  • Reusable Blocks and Block Patterns
  • Core blocks like Columns, Groups, and Cover

How to Use the Tabs Block

Step 1: Add the Tabs Block

  1. In the Block Editor, click the “+” icon to add a new block.
  2. Search for “Tabs Block”.
  3. Select it to insert into your post or page.

Step 2: Choose a Layout

Open the right-hand sidebar and pick from horizontal or vertical layouts. You can switch anytime.

Step 3: Add Tabs and Content

Add, rename, or delete tabs using the block toolbar. Each tab panel supports any block — text, images, videos, forms, etc.

Step 4: Customize the Look

Use the sidebar controls to adjust:

  • Colors
  • Typography
  • Borders
  • Padding and spacing

Step 5: Preview Responsiveness

Use the Editor’s device preview to test how your tabs behave on mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Checkout out documentation for more details

Customization Options

Tabs Block integrates seamlessly with WordPress’s design tools, so you can:

  • Change background and text colors using global styles.
  • Adjust spacing, borders, and radii.
  • Apply block style variations for a unified site look.

For developers, advanced customization can be done via CSS custom properties or theme JSON overrides.

Common Use Cases

  • Product Features Tabs: Highlight product details, specifications, and reviews.
  • Documentation Pages: Organize setup instructions and API references.
  • FAQs: Group related questions under topic-based tabs.
  • Pricing Comparisons: Present plan details side by side.
  • Portfolio Showcases: Display projects or case studies by category.

Integration and Compatibility

Tabs Block integrates smoothly with:

  • Core WordPress Blocks: Columns, Groups, Cover, Image, Paragraph, Buttons, etc.
  • Full Site Editing (FSE): Works in templates and template parts.
  • Reusable Blocks: Create once, reuse anywhere.
  • Translation Plugins: WPML, Polylang, Loco Translate.
  • Caching & Optimization Plugins: No conflicts with WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, or Autoptimize.

Troubleshooting

Tabs Not Switching?

  • Check for JavaScript errors in your browser console.
  • Ensure WordPress 6.5 or higher is installed (Interactivity API required).

Styles Not Applying?

Your theme’s CSS may override tab styles. Try adding a higher specificity rule or using the block’s built-in design controls.

Open Source and Free

BlaBlaBlocks Tabs Block is open source under the MIT License.
You can freely use, modify, and contribute to its development.

Screenshots

  • Editor Settings – Customize tab layouts in the Block Editor sidebar.
  • Responsive Preview – Tabs adapt automatically for mobile, tablet, and desktop.
  • Template Library – Choose from multiple ready-to-use tab designs.
  • Frontend Example – See how responsive tabs render beautifully on your site.

Blocks

This plugin provides 2 blocks.

  • Tabs A dynamic tab block that lets you organize content into interactive, customizable tabs. Easily manage and display information in a clean, user-friendly layout.
  • Tab A single tab within a tabs block.

Installation

Automatic

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
  3. In the search field, type “Tabs Block for Gutenberg”, then click Search Plugins.
  4. Click Install Now, then Activate.

Manual

  1. Download the BlaBlaBlocks Tabs Block plugin.
  2. Upload it to your server via FTP under /wp-content/plugins/.
  3. Activate it through the Plugins screen in WordPress.

FAQ

1. Does this plugin work with Full Site Editing?

Yes. Tabs Block works perfectly with block themes and the Site Editor.

2. Can I add blocks inside tabs?

Absolutely. Each tab panel is a container for any core or third-party block.

3. Is this plugin mobile-friendly?

Yes. Tabs automatically become scrollable or stacked on small screens.

4. Can I use the Tabs Block inside Columns or Groups?

Yes. It supports full nesting and alignment control.

5. Does it require JavaScript libraries?

No. Tabs Block uses WordPress’s Interactivity API, eliminating dependency on jQuery.

6. How do I change colors and typography?

Use the built-in WordPress color, typography, and border tools under the block sidebar.

7. Can I create my own tab templates?

Yes. You can save a Tabs Block setup as a Reusable Block or pattern and reuse it across posts.

8. How do I make vertical tabs?

Select the Tabs Block under Layout settings choose “Vertical”.

9. Why aren’t my tabs switching?

Ensure you’re on WordPress 6.5+ and your theme doesn’t override Interactivity API features.

10. Can I style tabs using CSS?

Yes. Each tab and panel has a unique class name for custom styling.

11. Is it compatible with caching plugins?

Yes. Tabs Block doesn’t rely on AJAX or dynamic requests, so caching won’t affect functionality.

Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

Contributors & Developers

“Tabs Block – Responsive Gutenberg Tabs for Block Editor” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

Changelog

1.0.0

  • Initial release of Tabs Block for Gutenberg.
  • Added responsive horizontal and vertical tab layouts.
  • Built using WordPress Interactivity API for zero-dependency performance.
  • Includes ready-to-use templates and accessible WCAG-compliant markup.