Tab Targeting in Games: How the Tab Key Picks a Target
In a tab-target game you do not aim at an enemy, you select it. Pressing one key chooses a target, and your abilities then apply to whoever is selected, as long as range and facing allow. The name comes from the Tab key, which became the classic cycling key in MMORPGs on PC.
The system is the opposite of shooter aiming. A shooter asks where the crosshair points, while a tab-target game asks who is currently selected. That difference is why MMO combat is built around cooldowns, rotations and positioning rather than reflex aim.
How it works in World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is the clearest documented example, because its interface functions are public. The function TargetNearestEnemy rotates your target through nearby hostile units. It takes an optional "backward" argument, which reverses the direction, matching the Shift-Tab behaviour. It can only be called once per hardware event (one key press) and has been protected since patch 2.0.1 (December 2006), which means only Blizzard's own interface can run it from code. A separate function, TargetNearestEnemyPlayer, cycles through nearby enemy players only.
Players report that Tab is bound to Target Nearest Enemy by default under Key Bindings, in the Targeting section, and that a separate binding exists for enemy players only. The second binding is the one PvP players usually move onto Tab, because it skips pets and creatures. WoW also offers an optional action targeting mode, which players use as an alternative to Tab. Forum reports disagree on exactly how Tab chooses between candidates, so test it in the current client and do not assume an order.
Tab targeting compared with other systems
| System | You choose by | Typical genre |
|---|---|---|
| Tab targeting | Pressing a key to cycle or click a unit | MMORPGs |
| Action aiming | Pointing a crosshair | Shooters, action RPGs |
| Target lock | Holding onto one enemy while you move | Action games |
| Aim assist | The game nudges the crosshair toward a target | Console shooters |
Target lock and aim assist are related but separate. See the combat abilities glossary for target lock.
Practical habits
- Bind a key for enemy players separately from nearby units if you play PvP.
- Learn the reverse-cycle key as well; it helps when the forward order lands on the wrong unit.
- Click a target when the wrong one is selected. Cycling is for speed, not precision.
- Use mouseover or focus macros where your game supports them, so healing and interrupts do not depend on the current target.
Related terms
- Combat abilities glossary: target lock and related terms.
- Controls and input settings glossary: keybinds and sensitivity.
- Reticle: the aiming mark used in action aiming instead.
FAQ
What is tab targeting?
It is a targeting system where a key press selects the nearest or next enemy, and your abilities then act on that selection.
Which games use tab targeting?
World of Warcraft is the standard example. Many other MMORPGs also use it, usually with settings to change how it works.
Is tab targeting easier than aiming?
It removes aiming skill, but it adds target management. You still decide whom to select and when to switch.
Can I make Tab select only players?
In World of Warcraft you can bind Target Nearest Enemy Player in the Targeting key bindings, which skips non-player units.
