Create & Share iGoogle Tabs - A Step-by-Step Guide

The Evolution of Browser Organization and iGoogle Tabs

It’s interesting to recall a time when tabbed browsing was a revolutionary feature, initially popularized by Firefox as a contrast to Internet Explorer. Prior to this innovation, managing multiple websites simultaneously involved cumbersome navigation using the back button or switching between open windows.

Interestingly, Opera had implemented tabbed browsing even earlier, a fact discovered during an HTML training session. This historical context is relevant because it mirrors the functionality now available within iGoogle.

iGoogle: Personalized Homepages and Gadget Management

If you utilize a personalized iGoogle page, you’ll recognize the potential for it to become cluttered with numerous gadgets, much like having too many websites open at once. Fortunately, iGoogle offers a solution: tabs.

Tabs function as a streamlined table of contents, organizing your gadgets into distinct pages. Each tab displays a title and lists the gadgets contained within, enhancing navigation and reducing visual overload.

For those unfamiliar, iGoogle is Google’s customizable homepage, allowing users to consolidate their preferred web content in a single location. You can access it at http://www.google.com/ig.

On your iGoogle page, a "Home" tab is visible on the left-hand side, providing links to each gadget on your homepage.

Creating and Utilizing iGoogle Tabs

To categorize your gadgets, you can easily add a new tab. For example, you might group productivity tools – such as your calendar, email, and to-do list – onto a dedicated page. To add a tab, click the arrow next to "Home" and select "Add a Tab" from the dropdown menu.