Tab
What is Tab?
Definition
A tab is a formatting feature that places text at predetermined horizontal positions within a line of a document. Tabs create consistent alignment by moving text to specific locations rather than relying on manually inserted spaces. This helps organize information neatly and maintain a professional layout across documents.
Frayer Model Overview
Characteristics
Controls horizontal text alignment, not spacing by characters
Moves the insertion point to a preset position on the line
Defined by tab stops rather than fixed distances
Keeps alignment consistent across multiple lines
Does not add visible characters to the text
Examples
Aligning names and numbers into clean columns in Word
Creating a list where prices line up on the right
Lining up text under specific headings
Using tabs to format a resume layout
Adjusting tab stops to change alignment
Non-Examples
Pressing the spacebar repeatedly to line up text
A table made of rows and columns
Indentation created by paragraph settings
A column in a spreadsheet
A line break or new paragraph