Tab vs. Tap — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 21, 2023
A tab is a small flap or projection, often used for attaching or marking, while a tap is to lightly strike or touch, or a device to control the flow of liquid.
Difference Between Tab and Tap
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A tab is typically referred to as a small flap or projection sticking out from a larger piece, often for the purpose of attaching or marking something. For instance, when referring to folders, a tab might be the little section that protrudes, helping to label and categorize the content. On the other hand, a tap often refers to a light touch or strike, such as when one taps another person's shoulder to get their attention.
Tabs are also commonly associated with technology, especially in computing. For instance, in web browsers, tabs allow users to open multiple websites in the same window, switching between them effortlessly. Taps, in a similar tech context but a different application, can refer to the quick press one does on touch-screen devices to select an item or function.
The word tab can also pertain to financial situations. It's colloquially used to refer to the total bill at a restaurant or bar, as in "picking up the tab." Meanwhile, tap can also mean a device or fixture that controls the release of liquid, like a water tap or beer tap.
In the context of music, tabs (or tablature) provide musicians with a form of musical notation that shows them where to place their fingers on the instrument, rather than indicating musical pitch. In a slightly analogous musical context, tapping is a guitar technique where the player touches the fretboard to produce sound.
Tabs are often found on clothing as well, serving as fasteners or markers. They might be present on zippers or even as markers on sneakers. Taps, on the other hand, can also refer to a form of dance, tap dancing, where dancers wear shoes fitted with metal plates and create rhythmic patterns by striking their feet against the floor.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A small flap or projection.
A device to control flow or light strike.
Tech Usage
Open multiple websites in one window.
Quick press on touch-screen devices.
Financial Context
The total bill at a bar or restaurant.
N/A
Musical Context
Form of musical notation.
Guitar technique or form of dance.
Physical Presence
Found on folders, clothing, or shoes.
A fixture in sinks or beer dispensers.
Compare with Definitions
Tab
A cigarette.
Giv' us a tab man!
Tap
A piece of advice or information concerning the development of a situation.
I've got a tap on what's happening downtown.
Tab
A small flap or strip of material attached to or projecting from something, used to hold, fasten, or manipulate it, or for identification and information.
Tap
A device by which the flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled.
She turned on the tap and filled a glass with water.
Tab
A second or further document or page that can be opened on a spreadsheet or web browser.
Tap
A quick, light touch or poke.
She gave him a tap on the shoulder.
Tab
A restaurant bill
The waiter brought three drinks and a new tab
Tap
Draw (liquor) from a tap;
Tap beer in a bar
Tab
Short for tableau curtains
Tap
A device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled
She turned the cold tap on
The air-supply tap
Tab
A part of a control surface, typically hinged, that modifies the action or response of the surface.
Tap
A device connected to a telephone for listening secretly to someone's conversations
Those taps produced hundreds of hours of recordings
Tab
A cigarette.
Tap
A taproom.
Tab
A facility in a word-processing program, or a device on a keyboard, for advancing to a sequence of set positions in tabular work
The tab key
Tap
A quick light blow, or the sound of such a blow
There was a sharp tap at the door
Tab
Mark or identify with a projecting piece of material
He opened the book at a page tabbed by a cloth bookmark
Tap
Tap dancing
A rhythm much used in tap
Tab
Use the tab key on a computer or typewriter keyboard
The user can tab to the phrase and press Enter
Tap
Strike with a quick light blow or blows
One of my staff tapped me on the shoulder
Tab
Short for tabulate
Tap
Approach (a sports player) unlawfully with a view to signing them to another club while they are still under contract with their current one.
Tab
A small, usually decorative flap or tongue on a garment.
Tap
Designate or select (someone) for a task or honour, especially membership of an organization or committee
He had been tapped earlier to serve in Costa Rica
Tab
A small auxiliary airfoil that is attached to a larger one and that helps stabilize an aircraft.
Tap
To strike gently with a light blow or blows
I tapped you on the shoulder to get your attention.
Tab
This special ASCII character.
Tap
To give a light rap with
Tap a pencil.
Tab
A tabloid.
Tap
To produce with a succession of light blows
Tap out a rhythm.
Tab
To supply with a tab or tabs.
Tap
To select, as for membership in an organization; designate.
Tab
To press the tab on a typewriter or computer keyboard
Tab over to the next column.
Tap
(mechanical) To cut an internal screw thread.
Tap an M3 thread all the way through the hole.
Tab
A small flap or strip of material attached to something, for holding, manipulation, identification, opening etc.
Tap
To turn or flip a card or playing piece to remind players that it has already been used that turn (by analogy to "tapping," in the sense of drawing on to the point of temporary exhaustion, the resources or abilities represented by the card).
Tab
(slang) An ear.
Tap
(informal) To cadge, borrow or beg.
I tried to tap a cigarette off him, but he wouldn't give me one.
Tab
A navigational widget, resembling a physical tab, for switching between documents or sets of controls.
Tap
To drain off fluid by paracentesis.
Tab
(GUI) The page or form associated with such a navigational widget.
How many tabs are open in your Web browser?
Tap
To advance someone for a post or job, or for membership of a club.
Trump interviewed Mueller for FBI job day before he was tapped for special counsel.
Tab
A fast march or run with full kit.
Tap
To strike lightly.
She tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.
Tab
A restaurant bill.
Tap
To touch one's finger, foot, or other body parts on a surface (usually) repeatedly.
He was so nervous he began to tap his fingers on the table.
She tapped her companion on the back to indicate that she was ready to go.
Lydia tapped Jim on the shoulder to get his attention.
Tab
Credit account, e.g., in a shop or bar; slate
Put this round on my tab, please, barman.
Tap
To make a sharp noise.
The tree, swaying in the breeze, began to tap on the window pane.
Tab
(by extension) The cost or bill for anything.
Tap
(graphical user interface) To operate an electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone) by tapping a specific place on its (capacitive or other) touch screen.
Tab
A form of musical notation indicating fingering rather than the pitch of notes, commonly used for stringed instruments.
Tap
To designate for some duty or for membership, as in 'a tap on the shoulder'.
Tab
(Oxbridge slang) A student of Cambridge University.
Tap
To have sexual intercourse with.
I would tap that hot girl over there.
I'd tap that.
Tab
(colloquial) A tabloid newspaper.
Tap
To strike a gentle blow.
Tab
(computing) To use the Tab key on a computer to advance the cursor or move the input focus, or on a typewriter to advance the carriage.
Tap
To pierce so as to let out, or draw off, a fluid; as, to tap a cask, a tree, a tumor, a keg of beer, etc.
Tab
The flap or latchet of a shoe fastened with a string or a buckle.
Tap
Hence, to draw resources from (a reservoir) in any analogous way; as, to tap someone's knowledge of the Unix system; to tap the treasury.
Tab
A loop for pulling or lifting something.
Tap
To draw, or cause to flow, by piercing.
He has been tapping his liquors.
Tab
A border of lace or other material, worn on the inner front edge of ladies' bonnets.
Tap
To form an internal screw in (anything) by means of a tool called a tap; as, to tap a nut, a pipe, or tubing.
Tab
A loose pendent part of a lady's garment; esp., one of a series of pendent squares forming an edge or border.
Tap
To connect a listening device to (a telephone or telegraph line) secretly, for the purpose of hearing private conversations; also, to obtain or record (information) by tapping; - a technique used by law enforcement agencies investigating suspected criminals. In the United States it is illegal without a court order permitting it.
Tab
A small projecting piece of a file folder, file card, or similar sheet used in a filing system, on which a notation is written to permit convenient search for the folder, card, etc.
Tap
A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.
Tab
A bill or check for some purchase, as in a restaurant; as, the salesman will pick up the tab.
Tap
A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel.
Tab
A key on a typewriter or computer keyboard which advances the carriage or curser to the next (preset) tab position; - used especially to type or print text or numbers in columns.
Tap
A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed, - usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.
Tab
The bill in a restaurant;
He asked the waiter for the check
Tap
A hole or pipe through which liquor is drawn.
Tab
Sensationalist journalism
Tap
A plug or spile for stopping a hole pierced in a cask, or the like; a faucet.
Tab
The key on an electric typewriter that causes a tabulation
Tap
Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; as, a liquor of the same tap.
Tab
A short strip of material attached to or projecting from something in order to facilitate opening or identifying or handling it;
Pull the tab to open the can
Files with a red tab will be stored separately
The collar has a tab with a button hole
Tap
A place where liquor is drawn for drinking; a taproom; a bar.
Tab
A dose of medicine in the form of a small pellet
Tap
A tool for forming an internal screw, as in a nut, consisting of a hardened steel male screw grooved longitudinally so as to have cutting edges.
Tab
A small flap or projection often used for attaching or marking.
I pulled the tab to open the soda can.
Tap
The sound made by a gentle blow
Tab
A section in a software window or browser to keep multiple pages or documents accessible.
I have twenty tabs open on my browser right now.
Tap
A faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask
Tab
A small strip attached to or projecting from something for convenience.
The zipper's tab broke off my backpack.
Tap
A gentle blow
Tab
A tablet, especially one containing an illicit drug
He faced charges of attempting to export Ecstasy tabs
Tap
A small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing)
Tab
A tabloid newspaper
She tries to cover up his peccadillos before they make the tabs' front pages
Tap
A tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads
Tab
Short for tablature
Get tips on learning how to read guitar tab
Tap
A plug for a bunghole in a cask
Tab
A projection, flap, or short strip attached to an object to facilitate opening, handling, or identification.
Tap
The act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information
Tab
A pull-tab.
Tap
A light touch or stroke
Tab
A bill or check, such as one for a meal in a restaurant.
Tap
Cut a female screw thread with a tap
Tab
Cost; price
The tab for upgrading the computers would be high.
Tap
Draw from or dip into to get something;
Tap one's memory
Tap a source of money
Tab
A tabulator on a typewriter.
Tap
Strike lightly;
He tapped me on the shoulder
Tab
A key on a computer keyboard that, when pressed, inserts a special ASCII character used for formatting text, as in indenting a line or block of text.
Tap
Draw from; make good use of;
We must exploit the resources we are given wisely
Tab
(computing) A space character that extends to the next aligned column, traditionally used for tabulation.
Tap
Tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information;
The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy
Is this hotel room bugged?
Tab
(informal) A tablet, especially one containing illicit drugs.
Tap
Furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it;
Tap a cask of wine
Tab
(transitive) To affix with tabs; to label.
Tap
Make light, repeated taps on a surface;
He was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently
Tab
A bill or check in a restaurant or bar.
He generously offered to pick up the tab.
Tap
Walk with a tapping sound
Tap
Dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes;
Glover tapdances better than anybody
Tap
Pierce in order to draw a liquid from;
Tap a maple tree for its syrup
Tap a keg of beer
Tap
Make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently;
Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce
My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities
Tap
A type of dance performed wearing shoes fitted with metal, producing rhythmic tapping sounds.
The tap performance was the highlight of the evening.
Tap
An instrument for cutting a threaded hole in a material.
Tap
A bugle call for lights to be put out in army quarters
The bugler played taps
Tap
Draw liquid through the tap or spout of (a cask, barrel, or other container)
Several barrels had been tapped to celebrate old victories
Tap
Exploit or draw a supply from (a resource)
Clients from industry seeking to tap Edinburgh's resources of expertise
These magazines have tapped into a target market of consumers
Tap
Connect a device to (a telephone) so that conversation can be listened to secretly
The telephones were tapped by the state security police
Tap
Cut a thread in (something) to accept a screw
On most vices, the metal jaws are drilled and tapped to accept screws
Tap
To repair (shoe heels or toes) by applying a thin layer of leather or a substitute material.
Tap
To attach metal plates to (shoe toes or heels).
Tap
To deliver a gentle, light blow or blows.
Tap
To walk making light clicks.
Tap
To tap-dance.
Tap
To furnish with a spigot or tap.
Tap
To pierce in order to draw off liquid
Tap a maple tree.
Tap
To draw (liquid) from a vessel or container
Tap a new keg of beer.
Tap
(Medicine) To withdraw fluid from (a body cavity).
Tap
To make a physical connection with or open outlets from
Tap a water main.
Tap
To wiretap (a telephone or communications channel).
Tap
To establish an electric connection in (a power line), as to divert current secretly.
Tap
To establish access to or a connection with
Tapped a new market for inexpensive books.
Tap
To take advantage of; make use of
Tapped voter anger to win the election.
Tap
To cut screw threads in (a collar, socket, or other fitting).
Tap
(Informal) To ask (a person) for money.
Tap
A gentle blow.
Tap
The sound made by such a blow.
Tap
A thin layer of leather or a substitute applied to a worn-down shoe heel or toe.
Tap
A metal plate attached to the toe or heel of a shoe, as for tap-dancing.
Tap
Tap dance.
Tap
(Linguistics) See flap.
Tap
A valve and spout used to regulate delivery of a fluid at the end of a pipe.
Tap
A plug for a bunghole; a spigot.
Tap
Liquor drawn from a spigot.
Tap
Liquor of a particular brew, cask, or quality.
Tap
(Medicine) The removal of fluid from a body cavity
A spinal tap.
Tap
A tool for cutting an internal screw thread.
Tap
A makeshift terminal in an electric circuit.
Tap
A wiretap.
Tap
A tapering cylindrical pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask.
Tap
A device used to dispense liquids.
We don't have bottled water; you'll have to get it from the tap.
Tap
Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor.
A liquor of the same tap
Tap
A place where liquor is drawn for drinking.
Tap
(mechanics) A device used to cut an internal screw thread. (External screw threads are cut with a die.)
We drilled a hole and then cut the threads with the proper tap to match the valve's thread.
Tap
A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it.
The system was barely keeping pressure due to all of the ill-advised taps along its length.
Tap
An interception of communication by authority.
Tap
A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls.
Tap
A procedure that removes fluid from a body cavity.
Abdominal tap
Pleural tap
Spinal tap
Tap
(finance) The situation where a borrowing government authority issues bonds over a period of time, usually at a fixed price, with volumes sold on a particular day dependent on market conditions.
Tap issue; a bond tap
Tap
A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.
When Steve felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around.
Tap
(dance) tap dance
Tap
The act of touching a touch screen.
Tap
A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel.
Tap
(military) A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed; usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.
Tap
(phonetics) A consonant sound made by a single muscle contraction, such as the sound [
Tap
An Indian malarial fever.
Tap
To furnish with taps.
If we tap the maple trees, we can get maple syrup!
Tap
To draw off liquid from a vessel.
He tapped a new barrel of beer.
Tap
To deplete, especially of a liquid via a tap; to tap out.
Tap
To exploit.
Businesses are trying to tap the youth market.
Tap
To place a listening or recording device on a telephone or wired connection.
They can't tap the phone without a warrant.
Tap
To intercept a communication without authority.
He was known to tap cable television.
Tap
(combat sports) To submit to an opponent by tapping one's hand repeatedly.
Tap
To force (an opponent) to submit.
Tap
To put a new sole or heel on.
To tap shoes
Tap
To strike with a slight or gentle blow; to touch gently; to rap lightly; to pat; as, to tap one with the hand or a cane.
Tap
To put a new sole or heel on; as, to tap shoes.
Common Curiosities
Are tabs exclusive to technology?
No, tabs are versatile and can be found on many objects, such as folders, clothing, and shoes, serving various purposes.
What is a tab in a web browser?
In a web browser, a tab is a separate page or site that can be opened and viewed simultaneously within the same browsing window.
Can tap also refer to a technique in guitar playing?
Yes, tapping is a guitar technique in which a player produces notes by touching and flicking the strings on the fretboard.
How is tap relevant in the context of dance?
Tap refers to a dance style known as tap dancing, where dancers produce rhythmic sounds by striking the floor with metal-plated shoes.
Can tab also refer to a bill at a restaurant?
Yes, in colloquial terms, "tab" can refer to a bill or check at a restaurant or bar, as in "putting a drink on my tab."
How is tap used in a technological context?
In technology, especially on touch-screen devices, a tap refers to a quick, light press to select or activate a function.
Is a tap always a physical device?
While taps can refer to fixtures controlling the flow of liquid, it can also mean a light touch, strike, or even a piece of information or advice.
How is tab used musically?
Musically, "tab" refers to tablature, a notation method that indicates finger positioning on an instrument, commonly used for guitars.
What might cause one to "pick up the tab"?
"Picking up the tab" is a phrase meaning to pay the bill, especially at a restaurant or bar.
In what context might someone "tap into" something?
"Tap into" is a phrase meaning to access or make use of a resource, like tapping into one's creativity or a data source.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
