Feat(TABS): Better Support For Faceless Mat-tabs Usage

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Introduction

In recent years, the use of faceless components has become increasingly popular in web development. Faceless components are those that do not render any visual elements, but instead rely on programmatic interaction to function. In the context of the Material Design library, the MatTabGroup component is a crucial part of the tab navigation system. However, its current implementation does not support faceless usage, making it difficult for developers to leverage its features in a programmatic manner. In this article, we will explore the need for better support of faceless MatTabGroup usage and propose three key improvements to address this issue.

Feature Description

1. Faceless Mode

The first improvement we propose is the addition of a faceless mode to the MatTabGroup component. This mode would prevent the mat-tab-header from being rendered, allowing developers to use the component in a faceless manner without relying on CSS hacks like ::ng-deep. This is a crucial feature for developers who want to leverage the lazy loading capabilities of mat-tab-content while still maintaining control over the tabs programmatically.

Why is faceless mode important?

  • Lazy loading: By not rendering the tab header, developers can take advantage of lazy loading, which improves page performance by loading only the necessary content.
  • Programmatic control: Faceless mode enables developers to control the tabs programmatically, which is essential for custom components that require precise control over the tab navigation.

2. Focus Tab by ID

The second improvement we propose is the addition of a focusTabById(id: string) method to the MatTabGroup component. This method would allow developers to navigate to a specific tab by its ID, making it easier to manage complex tab navigation scenarios.

Why is focus tab by ID important?

  • Unique tab IDs: By requiring unique tab IDs, developers can ensure that the focusTabById method selects the correct tab, even in complex scenarios with multiple tabs.
  • Programmatic navigation: This method enables developers to navigate to specific tabs programmatically, which is essential for custom components that require precise control over the tab navigation.

3. Expose Tab IDs Collection

The third improvement we propose is the exposure of the collection of tab IDs, allowing developers to grab a viewChild reference and iterate over the collection to associate it with an index. This alternative approach provides a more flexible way to manage tab navigation without relying on the focusTabById method.

Why is exposing tab IDs collection important?

  • Flexibility: By exposing the collection of tab IDs, developers can choose the approach that best suits their needs, whether it's using the focusTabById method or iterating over the collection.
  • Customization: This approach enables developers to customize the tab navigation experience to fit their specific requirements.

Use Case

Faceless Mat-Tabs Usage

The use case for faceless MatTabGroup usage is a custom component that requires programmatic control over the tabs. By leveraging the lazy loading capabilities of mat-tab-content and using the focusTabById method or iterating over the collection of tab IDs, developers can create a seamless and efficient tab navigation experience.

Benefits of faceless Mat-Tabs usage

  • Improved performance: By leveraging lazy loading, developers can improve page performance by loading only the necessary content.
  • Precise control: Faceless mode enables developers to control the tabs programmatically, which is essential for custom components that require precise control over the tab navigation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed improvements to the MatTabGroup component will enable better support for faceless usage, making it easier for developers to leverage its features in a programmatic manner. By adding a faceless mode, a focusTabById method, and exposing the collection of tab IDs, developers can create a seamless and efficient tab navigation experience that meets their specific requirements.

Future Work

Future work on this feature will focus on implementing the proposed improvements and testing them thoroughly to ensure that they meet the requirements of developers who need to use faceless MatTabGroup components. Additionally, we will continue to gather feedback from the community to ensure that the feature meets the needs of all users.

Implementation

The implementation of the proposed improvements will involve the following steps:

  1. Add faceless mode: Implement the faceless mode by preventing the mat-tab-header from being rendered.
  2. Add focus tab by ID method: Implement the focusTabById method to enable navigation to specific tabs by their ID.
  3. Expose tab IDs collection: Expose the collection of tab IDs to allow developers to iterate over it and associate it with an index.

Testing

The testing of the proposed improvements will involve the following steps:

  1. Unit testing: Write unit tests to ensure that the faceless mode, focusTabById method, and exposed tab IDs collection work as expected.
  2. Integration testing: Write integration tests to ensure that the feature works seamlessly with other components and libraries.
  3. End-to-end testing: Perform end-to-end testing to ensure that the feature meets the requirements of developers who need to use faceless MatTabGroup components.

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the need for better support of faceless MatTabGroup usage and proposed three key improvements to address this issue. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the proposed improvements and provide additional information to help developers understand the benefits and implementation details of these features.

Q: What is faceless mode, and why is it important?

A: Faceless mode is a feature that prevents the mat-tab-header from being rendered, allowing developers to use the MatTabGroup component in a faceless manner. This is important because it enables developers to leverage the lazy loading capabilities of mat-tab-content while still maintaining control over the tabs programmatically.

Q: How does the focusTabById method work?

A: The focusTabById method allows developers to navigate to a specific tab by its ID. This method requires unique tab IDs, which ensures that the correct tab is selected even in complex scenarios with multiple tabs.

Q: Why is exposing the collection of tab IDs important?

A: Exposing the collection of tab IDs provides a more flexible way to manage tab navigation without relying on the focusTabById method. This approach allows developers to choose the approach that best suits their needs, whether it's using the focusTabById method or iterating over the collection.

Q: How can I implement faceless mode, the focusTabById method, and expose the collection of tab IDs?

A: The implementation details of these features will be provided in a future article. However, here is a high-level overview of the steps involved:

  1. Add faceless mode: Implement the faceless mode by preventing the mat-tab-header from being rendered.
  2. Add focus tab by ID method: Implement the focusTabById method to enable navigation to specific tabs by their ID.
  3. Expose tab IDs collection: Expose the collection of tab IDs to allow developers to iterate over it and associate it with an index.

Q: What are the benefits of using faceless MatTabGroup components?

A: The benefits of using faceless MatTabGroup components include:

  • Improved performance: By leveraging lazy loading, developers can improve page performance by loading only the necessary content.
  • Precise control: Faceless mode enables developers to control the tabs programmatically, which is essential for custom components that require precise control over the tab navigation.

Q: How can I provide feedback on the proposed improvements?

A: We welcome feedback from the community on the proposed improvements. You can provide feedback by commenting on this article or by submitting a pull request on the Material Design GitHub repository.

Q: What is the timeline for implementing the proposed improvements?

A: The timeline for implementing the proposed improvements will be provided in a future article. However, we anticipate that the implementation will take several weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the features and the availability of resources.

Conclusion In conclusion, the proposed improvements to the MatTabGroup component will enable better support for faceless usage, making it easier for developers to leverage its features in a programmatic manner. By answering some frequently asked questions and providing additional information, we hope to have addressed any concerns or questions you may have had about the proposed improvements.