tabs_controller.rb

# this is pseudo code, so you'll probably need to fix it.
def index

	#@tabs = [];

        #@articles.each do |article|
        #        @tags << article.tags
        #end

	@tabs = [
		new Tag(id => 1, name => "andy"),
		new Tag(id => 2, name => "benson"),
		new Tag(id => 3, name => "abby")
	];

        # i think you need to do a "unique" on @tabs now. this might be useful:
        # http://stackoverflow.com/questions/181091/how-do-i-get-the-unique-elements-from-an-array-of-hashes-in-ruby
        @tabs = @tabs.uniq
       
        # true unique needs to compare the objects, i think:
        # @tabs.inject([]) { |result,h| result << h unless result.include?(h); result }


end



def getTabContent
        @tagId = params[:tabId];
        @tag = Tag.find_by_id(@tagId);


        return "html of your tag contnet";
end

tabs_view.html.erb

// you'll need to make sure jquery is included on this file.

<div id="tag_navigation">
<% @tabs.each do |tab| %>
        <div class="tab" _tagId="<%= tab.id %>">
                <%= tab.name %>
        </div>
<% end %>
</div>

<div id="tag_content">
</div>



<script>
$(document).ready(function() {
        $("#tag_navigation .tab").click(function() {

                console.log("tag id: " + $(this).attr("_tagId"));

                // http://api.jquery.com/category/ajax/
                $.ajax({
                    url: "/getTabContent",
                    type: 'POST',
                    data: { tagId: $(this).attr("_tagId") },
                    success: function(response){
                      $("#tag_content").html(response);
                    }
                });
        });
});
</script>

<style>
#tag_navigation { clear: both; float: left; }
#tag_navigation .tab {background-color: #444; color: #ccc; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0px 3px; padding: 10px; }
</style>