TabAPI
by Sygikal
With TabAPI installed, a mod can add its own tabs to inventory screens through a small set of registration calls on Fabric.
What it does
TabAPI is a library for adding tabs to inventory screens. A mod creates a tab class that extends InventoryTab, gives it an optional identifier and icon, and registers it with TabAPI.registerInventoryTab or TabAPI.registerSideInventoryTab during initialization. Tabs can be permanent or disabled, carry a tooltip that shows while hovered, and take a preferred position index. Custom rendering is available by setting a flag and overriding the render method of the tab class, and an unset icon lets the tab show an item instead.
Most cases need only one class that handles the tab behavior, and the library covers the rest of the setup. The project is built on the SkillZ codebase by Globox Z and LibZ, with unrelated code removed and a sidebar tab option added. Builds exist for Fabric only, across seven game versions 1.20 – 1.20.6. Players add it to their own game, and a server needs no copy. The code is not open source and the license is All rights reserved.
The latest Fabric file is 1.2.5 for 1.20.6, published 2025-08-29. The first release came out on 2025-03-03. SkillZ requires TabAPI, so it is the one catalog mod listed as depending on this library.
Key features
Inventory tab registration
Tabs are added by registering a tab class during mod initialization, either as a standard inventory tab or as a side tab.
Configurable tab identity
Each tab takes an optional identifier, an icon item, and a preferred index that sets where it appears among the others.
Tooltips and state
A tab can show a text tooltip while hovered and can be turned on or off with a boolean flag.
Custom rendering
Tabs can draw their own graphics by enabling custom rendering and overriding the render method of the tab class.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Required by 1 mod
How it compares
Creative Menu Tweaks is a Fabric mod for 1.20.1 – 1.21.5 where the client needs it and the server may skip it, released under the MIT License and open source. Visual Creative Tab Editor is a client and server mod for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 1.20.1 – 26.2, released under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 or later and open source. TabManager is a Fabric mod for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 that runs on the client alone, open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TabAPI | Fabric | 1.20 – 1.20.6 | Client-side only | 2025-08-29 |
| Creative Menu Tweaks | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 1.21.5 | Client required, server optional | 2025-07-25 |
| Visual Creative Tab Editor | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 26.2 | Client and server | 2026-10-15 |
| TabManager | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client-side only | 2026-07-05 |
Questions
Does SkillZ need TabAPI?
Which Minecraft versions does TabAPI support?
Does TabAPI have to be installed on the server?
In the catalog
TabAPI is one of 3,514 Library mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,348 Library mods for Fabric. 11,154 mods support Minecraft 1.20.6.
More from Sygikal
Similar mods
What the author says
An API to add inventory tabs. Natively for 1.20.1 but should work on every version. Made for SkillZ and based on Globox_Z's LibZ I stripped out the other code and added sidebar functionality.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/tabapi
- Owner
- Sygikal
- Published
- 2025-03-03
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-08-29
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15