---
title: "How to add Tab Items to a TabControl"  
description: "The Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) TabControl class contains multiple tab items that share the same space on the screen. You can add tab items"  
author: "Vijay Shukla"  
published: 2013-09-03  
updated: 2014-09-18  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/580/how-to-add-tab-items-to-a-tabcontrol  
category: "wpf"  
tags: ["wpf"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# How to add Tab Items to a TabControl

The Windows [Presentation Foundation](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/161354/what-is-the-difference-between-windows-forms-winforms-and-windows-presentation-foundation-wpf) (WPF) TabControl class contains [multiple](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/12797/iowa-is-expected-to-see-heavy-growth-in-multiple-sectors) tab items that share the same space on the screen. You can add tab items to a TabControl in the WPF Designer. This topic discusses three ways that you can add tab items to a TabControl.

1. XAML editor.

2. Designer editor.

3. [Collection](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/1718/collections-in-java) editor.

##### XAML Editor

You can add manually tab items in a TabControl by tying in the XAML editor.

##### Steps for adding tab items to a TabControl by using the XAML editor

1. In the XAML editor, locate a TabControl element.

2. Add a TabItem element as a child of the TabControl element. The code should resemble the following:

```
<TabControl Name="tabControl1">    <TabItem Header="tabItem1" /></TabControl>
```

##### Designer editor.

You can add a tab item to a TabControl by right-clicking the design surface.

Steps for adding tab items to a TabControl by using the designer

1. In the WPF Designer, select a TabControl.

2. In the upper part of the TabControl, right-click a TabItem.

3. Select Add Tab from the context menu.

4. A new TabItem is added to the TabControl.

##### Collection Editor

You can also add tab items to a TabControl by using the collection editor. When you use the collection editor to [configure](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/51511/how-to-configure-client-and-repository-in-informatica-power-center) tab items, [Design view](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/94814/design-view-is-not-getting-displayed-in-my-android-studio-what-should-i-do) and XAML view are updated automatically.

Steps for adding tab items to a TabControl by using the collection editor

1. In the WPF Designer, select a TabControl.

2. In the [Properties](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/23331/nootropics-7-different-types-and-their-unique-properties) window, locate the Items [property](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/205/property-notification-in-c-sharp), and click the ellipsis button in the property value column.

3. The Collection Editor [Dialog box](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/157/dialog-box-in-dot-net) appears.

4. Click Add to add a new tab item.

5. ([Optional](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/22851/main-difference-between-optional-and-required-keywords)) Set the properties of the tab item.

6. (Optional) Repeat steps 3 and 4 to add more tab items.

7. Click OK to close the Collection Editor and return to the WPF Designer.

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/580/how-to-add-tab-items-to-a-tabcontrol

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