Building a Dynamic Tabs Component in Webflow CMS

If you're looking to create a dynamic and CMS-generated tabs component in Webflow, you've come to the right place. In this tutorial, we'll walk through the process of building a truly dynamic tabs component using Webflow's CMS library. By the end of this tutorial, you'll understand how to create a tabs component that can dynamically generate tab links and content from your CMS collection list.

Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into the specifics, it's crucial to understand the basic components and their roles in creating a dynamic tabs component in Webflow. Here's a breakdown of the key elements involved:

Webflow Tabs Component

The tabs component is a native Webflow element found in the assets panel under the components section. This component has settings that you can configure to customize its appearance and behavior.

Data Feed

The data feed refers to the content that populates the tabs component. In the context of this tutorial, the tabs and their corresponding content are entirely generated from the items within the CMS collection list in Webflow.

Classes

Three essential classes play a significant role in creating the dynamic tabs component:

1. Tabs Component Class: This class is applied to the outermost tabs element and is used to identify the tabs component in the JavaScript code.
2. Tabs Data Feed Class: Applied to the collection list wrapper, this class informs the library that the content of the tabs component is derived from this specific data feed.
3. Tab Name Class: Applied to each item within the collection list, this class specifies the name of the tab link associated with the item.

Understanding these fundamental components and classes will set the foundation for building the dynamic tabs component in Webflow.

Creating the Dynamic Tabs Component

Now that we understand the basics, let's walk through the step-by-step process of building the dynamic tabs component in Webflow using the CMS library.

Step 1: Setting Up the Tabs Component

1. Drag the tabs component from the assets panel onto your Webflow page.
2. Configure the tabs component's settings as per your design preferences.

Step 2: Configuring the Data Feed

1. Create a CMS collection list in Webflow and populate it with the relevant items. This collection list will serve as the data feed for the tabs component.
2. Apply the Tabs Data Feed class to the collection list wrapper to indicate that it is the source of content for the tabs component.

Step 3: Defining Tab Names

1. Within each item of the collection list, apply the Tab Name class to specify the name of the tab link associated with that item.

Step 4: Custom JavaScript Code

To enable the dynamic functionality of the tabs component, you'll need to incorporate custom JavaScript code into your Webflow project. Here's a breakdown of the essential JavaScript code:

// Hosted Library Script// Make sure to include the hosted library script on your Webflow page.// Custom JavaScript Functionfunction setupDynamicTabs() {  // Create a new instance of the Finsweet CMS Library  var fsTabs = new FinsweetCmsLibrary();  // Target the Tabs Data Feed  fsTabs.target('.tabs-data-feed');  // Run the Tabs Component  fsTabs.runTabsComponent({    component: '.tabs-component', // Class of the tabs component in Webflow    tabName: '.tab-name', // Class defining the tab names    resetIxA: true // Set to true to enable Webflow interactions on the tabs  });}

By implementing the custom JavaScript function, you can effectively create a CMS-generated tabs component in Webflow. This function integrates the Finsweet CMS Library and specifies the classes associated with the tabs component, tab names, and Webflow interactions.

Testing and Refining the Dynamic Tabs

After setting up the dynamic tabs component, it's crucial to thoroughly test and refine its functionality. Here are some essential steps to ensure a seamless user experience:

• Naming and Unique Identification: Verify that each tab link has a unique name and ID to prevent conflicts and ensure accurate content display.
• Content Expansion: Experiment with adding more items to the CMS collection list to see how the tabs component dynamically adjusts to accommodate the additional content.
• User Interaction: Test the tabs component to ensure that users can seamlessly navigate between the different tabs and access the associated content.

Conclusion

In conclusion, building a dynamic tabs component in Webflow utilizing the CMS library from Finsweet can greatly enhance the interactivity and flexibility of your web projects. By understanding the core elements and implementing the custom JavaScript function, you can effortlessly create a tabs component that dynamically populates tab links and content from your CMS collection list. With this knowledge, you'll be able to elevate the user experience on your Webflow sites by incorporating dynamic and CMS-driven components.

With these steps and a thorough understanding of the fundamental concepts, you'll be well-equipped to integrate a dynamic tabs component into your Webflow projects with ease.

So go ahead, give it a try, and unlock the potential of dynamic content organization with CMS-generated tabs in Webflow! Happy designing!