Make tabs visually distinguishable from another

[defcon1]

Make tabs visually distinguishable from another (as they once were)

Lately I can't visually tell where one tab begins and the next begins, except by referencing the "X" (close tab) buttom, since it's all white text on a black background.  How about making them look like actual tabs again or alternating the colors or something?   

The visual appearance should follow the function. Being able to distinguish one tab from another is a functional issue. Compare the attached screenshot (old vs new appearances).  The old way is clearly superior from a functional perspective.

At least give us an option in the Settings. It doesn't have to be a default (though I suggest it should be). 

[jcoles]

I want to add my voice to those saying that the active tab is hard to find. The difference in background shading is just too subtle and the text colour is exactly the same as on the inactive tabs. It's a real strain and sometimes I select or close the wrong tab. Please keep in mind that your users include people whose vision is not absolutely perfect. Good contrast is good ergonomics.

As this was pointed out over a year ago and nothing has improved, have the developers decided that it's not a problem.

[eternalblue]

I'm curious about the progress of the requested feature. It has been in development for quite some time. Approximately a year ago, @rayf  mentioned that the next update would include it with Fx113. However, we are currently on Fx123. Can anyone provide an update on the status of this feature?

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

Color the active tab?
https://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=3114834

[ENetArch]

There are several problems with the current color scheme for tabs:

1) all tabs appear gray with black letters.

2) tabs turn all gray when they are not in the active window.

3) I am unable to see which tab is the active tab.

4) I have been accidentally closing the wrong tab all day.

Please implement a tab color scheme that allows me to set the background color of the active tab.

Please stop graying tabs when the window is not active. Or, at least give me the option to stop it.

[JohnBoyTheGreat]

@defcon1... Yes, I completely agree that it's almost impossible to see which tab is active. That is one of the most frustrating of the several tab issues.

I'm sure a theme could fix the problem...but I don't really care for themes...and why shouldn't it work correctly "out of the box"???

My solution would be an OUTLINE for the active tab, which glows with an neon-like glow, or at least as if it has been high-lighted with a neon marker.

That would really make it stand out and make it easy to see...

[poo_22]

This is still an issue for me on firefox 125.0.3. Like @defcon1 says it's hard to see which tab is active and I don't want to have to switch themes to be able to do so.

Designers please try your color-schemes on different panels, not everyone has a color calibrated expensive monitor.

[francoisds]

Bjr,

Quand on a plusieurs onglets d'ouverts, ce qui est le but du système, on finit par moins bien pouvoir distinguer quel est l'onglet actif.  Une petite flèche sur le dit onglet serait donc bien utile !

merci

Hello,

When you have several tabs open, which is the purpose of the system, you end up being less able to distinguish which tab is active. A small arrow on the said tab would therefore be very useful!

Thank you

[Jon]

(Note: similar ideas have been merged into this thread)

[MateusRodCosta]

So, I downloaded the Firefox source code and decided to tweak the tab bar in a way that could fix this and I that could potentially also submit to Mozilla the fix.

For this I changed the code so that every time you added a new tab it would also add a span with the "|" symbol inside between the previous tab and the new one and added some simple CSS.
This partially seems to break other stuff aside from opening tabs, but should be enough to gather some feedback.

Would this minimal separator be good enough for the ones that have issues with how things are right now? For the ones that still prefer a minimalist approach, would this bother you?

I will try to take a screenshot using soemthing different from the default theme as well for comparison. I actually broke opening the Settings page with this code)

[francoisds]

Dear MateusRodCosta,

We will see it as it appears.  For me a little modification is enough as it makes a difference with the other tabs.

I suppose many people have some issue to see witch is the current tab when there a lot open.

Thanks

[geekgamer]

This will help people with low vision as well as the colour-blind as they'll be able to choose tab colours that are best for their particular disability.

[chrisjevans]

I'm now on FF133 Any idea when this will be fixed please It continues to drive me crazy. Whilst the active tab is much more obvious in Chrome I'm not sure losing the favicon and text is ideal. I am slightly red blue colour blind and use +1 reading glasses anyone with significant sight impairment must be much more effected. I thought USA law required organisation to ensure accessibility.

[fugu]

This is a joke - it should be a very simple thing to do, it existed before and yet three years after the post originated I am finding myself googling for solutions for how to make the active tab visible. I am colour-blind which may not help, although I doubt this is the root cause. All I want is all other tabs dark and this light or the other way around. Something like that used to exist 15 years ago. It's such an impediment to me  that I am switch browsers until this is fixed.

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

Of course, it's not the answer expected, nevertheless
If you wish to study Tab Mix Plus https://github.com/onemen/TabMixPlus

https://onemen.github.io/tabmixplus-docs/help/display-tab

[Marcia]

Please please please this! Visually distinguishable tabs are a must! I want to make a switch to firefox but this is the only thing stopping me, I can't read the bar otherwise 😞 and every nonactive tab floating in a sea of text is a nightmare