JTabbedPane
create tabs:
JTabbedPane tp = new JTabbedPane(); tp.addTab("Tab 1", new JPanel()); tp.addTab("Tab 2", new JPanel());
react to the tab-change:
JTabbedPane tp = new JTabbedPane(); //... (add tabs) tp.addChangeListener(new ChangeListener() { stateChanged(ChangeEvent e) { JTabbedPane tp = (JTabbedPane)e.getSource(); int indx = tp.getSelectedIndex(); // indx identifys the selected tab. }