jQuery(document).ready( function() { jQuery(document).keydown(function(e) { var direction = null; // handle cursor keys if (e.keyCode == 37) { // slide left direction = 'prev'; } else if (e.keyCode == 39) { // slide right direction = 'next'; } if (direction != null) { var totaltabs = jQuery('#tabs').tabs('length'); //gettting the total # of tabs var selected = jQuery('#tabs').tabs('option', 'selected');//getting the currently selected tab if (direction == 'next') { if (selected <= totaltabs - 1) jQuery('#tabs').tabs('select',selected + 1) } else { if (selected != 0) jQuery('#tabs').tabs('select',selected - 1) } } }); });