Tabbed Document Interface
Tabbed browsing feature in the Mozilla web browser
A Tabbed Document Interface (TDI) is one that relies on tabbed panes to hold child windows. This style of interface may work in conjunction with a Multiple Document Interface or as an alternative. In the latter case, it is possible to display only one child window at a time in the parent window; they cannot be tiled or cascaded.
Internet web browsers are notable for implementing this kind of interface (called tabbed browsing), an approach pioneered by NetCaptor, an alternative interface to Microsoft Internet Explorer. It was soon followed by Opera v6.0 in November 2001 and subsequently adopted by Mozilla and a number of others. As of February 2004, most current graphical web browsers, with the notable exception of Microsoft Internet Explorer, natively support a TDI. Software, such as the freeware Crazy Browser, is available to add a TDI around Internet Explorer.
One important advantage of the tabbed document interface is that it holds many different documents logically under the one window, instead of holding a lot of small child windows, though, if too many documents are open, the tabs can be rather difficult to manage or label.
Document interface comparison:
- Tabbed Document Interface - one window at a time, constrained to parent window
- Multiple Document Interface - many windows at a time, constrained to parent window
- Single Document Interface - many windows at a time, not constrained to parent window