# Expander Tab Bar

> An icon-only mobile bottom bar where the chosen slot widens into a tinted tab and unfolds its label inline, its neighbours giving way.

- Category: Navigation
- Frameworks: Vanilla, React + CSS, React + Tailwind
- Design system: Aperture
- Dark mode: yes
- Access: premium (Atheros AI Pass)
- Tags: tab-bar, bottom-nav, mobile
- Page: https://builder.atheros.ai/components/expander-tab-bar
- Preview: https://d17nmjscumqk5d.cloudfront.net/builder/templates/tpl_builder_expander_tab_bar/preview-3fb894c19e7f.webp

## Features

- Five icon-only slots — Home, Search, Stats, Chat, Profile — each a real 24x24 Tabler icon
- The chosen slot widens into a tinted tab and unfolds its label inline while its neighbours give way, a width reveal rather than a slide
- Opening and collapsing carry different timings: the tab opens on a 0.55s spring and collapses on a quicker 0.3s ease, so the label is gone before the box starts shrinking and no glyph is ever sliced
- The label reveal animates `grid-template-columns` from `0fr` to `1fr`, which keeps the motion off the layout-thrashing `max-width` path
- A two-tone hairline draws along the open tab bottom edge on a `scaleX` transform
- Roving `tabindex` with Arrow/Home/End key navigation and `aria-current="page"` on the active link
- Fully respects `prefers-reduced-motion`

## Accessibility

- **Navigation landmark** — `<nav aria-label="Primary">` wraps the slot list
- **Current slot** — `aria-current="page"` on the active link
- **Decorative icons** — All SVGs marked `aria-hidden="true"` and `focusable="false"`
- **Focus indicators** — `:focus-visible` outlines on every link and control, never composed into a `box-shadow` list
- **Keyboard navigation** — Roving tabindex with Arrow, Home and End keys
- **Reduced motion** — `prefers-reduced-motion: reduce` disables all animations

## Keyboard shortcuts

- `Tab` — Move focus into and out of the slot list
- `ArrowLeft` — Move to the previous slot
- `ArrowRight` — Move to the next slot
- `Home` — Move to the first slot
- `End` — Move to the last slot

## Common questions

**Which frameworks is Expander Tab Bar available in?**

Expander Tab Bar ships as Vanilla, React + CSS and React + Tailwind — HTML, CSS, JS and React source you can copy, download or clone into Atheros AI Builder.

**Is the Expander Tab Bar navigation component free?**

Expander Tab Bar is a premium component. Anyone can preview it; the source, downloads and AI customisation are included with Atheros AI Pass.

**Does Expander Tab Bar support dark mode?**

Yes. Expander Tab Bar ships light and dark themes, both drawn from the Aperture design system's tokens. Switch the preview to dark mode to compare them.

## Get the code

Preview Expander Tab Bar live, then sign in to copy or download the source, apply another design system, or ask the AI assistant to change it: https://builder.atheros.ai/components/expander-tab-bar

Every component on https://builder.atheros.ai is also reachable from Claude Code, Cursor and Codex through the Atheros MCP server (paid plans). Component index: https://builder.atheros.ai/llms-components.txt