A tab bar is a horizontal row of icons or labels at the bottom or top of the screen that allows users to switch between different sections of the app. It is one of the most popular and simple navigation patterns, as it provides clear and consistent access to the main functions of the app. A tab bar works well for apps that have a limited number of sections, usually between two and five, and that require frequent switching between them. For example, a social media app might use a tab bar to navigate between home, explore, notifications, and profile.
To create a tab bar for cross-platform development, you can use frameworks and libraries such as React Native, Ionic, or Flutter, which provide ready-made components and styles for both iOS and Android. You can also customize the appearance and behavior of the tab bar using props, attributes, or themes, depending on the framework you choose. For example, in React Native, you can use react-navigation and react-native-paper to create a tab bar with icons, labels, badges, and animations.