tab

(1) To move the cursor on a display screen or the print head on a printer to a specified column (the tab stop). Pressing the Tab key on a keyboard moves the screen cursor horizontally to the right. Pressing Shift-Tab moves it to the left. However, in the ASCII character set, there are codes for both horizontal and vertical tabs. See tab stop.

(2) A small flap used for quick access that projects out from the end of a page or file folder. The on-screen equivalent is clicked to display a dialog for the user. See tabbed browsing.

(3) (TAB) See tape automated bonding.

Dialog Box Tabs

On-screen tabs are widely used in control panels and other setting dialogs. In this Windows display control panel example, the Appearance tab is currently selected.

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Short-term obligation issued by the U.S. Treasury in competitive bidding at maturities ranging from 23 to 273 days. TABs typically come due within five to seven days after the quarterly due dates for corporate tax payments, but corporations can tender them at Par value on those tax deadlines in payment of taxes without forfeiting interest income. Since 1975, TABs have been supplemented by cash management bills, due in 30 days or less, and issued in minimum $10 million blocks. These instruments, which are timed to coincide with the maturity of existing issues, provide the Treasury with additional cash management flexibility while giving large investors a safe place to park temporary funds.