Virtual tabs supporting web content suspension

A computing device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon multiple instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
• displaying first Web content in an associated visible tab of a user interface tab of a Web application, the user interface tab having simultaneously its own virtual tabs comprising the associated visible tab and an associated empty tab that is not visible;
• receiving a request to change from displaying the first Web content to displaying second Web content in the user interface tab;
• loading the second Web content in the associated empty tab of the user interface tab and converting the loaded empty tab into a new associated visible tab of the user interface tab that replaces the old associated visible tab of the user interface;
• displaying, in response to the request, the second Web content in the new associated visible tab of the user interface tab;
• converting the old associated visible tab to an associated hidden tab of the user interface tab;
• keeping the first Web content in the associated hidden tab of the user interface tab while displaying the second Web content in the new associated visible tab of the user interface tab;
• and
• suspending the first Web content.

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a Web application implemented in a computing device to display first Web content in an associated visible tab of a user interface tab of the Web application, the user interface tab having simultaneously its own virtual tabs comprising the associated visible tab and an associated hidden empty tab that is not visible;
• a user input module implemented at least partially in hardware of the computing device to receive a request to change from displaying the first Web content to displaying second Web content in the user interface tab;
• a tab generation module implemented in the computing device to load the second Web content in the associated empty tab of the user interface tab of the user interface tab and convert the loaded empty tab into a new associated visible tab of the user interface tab that replaces the old associated visible tab of the user interface tab;
• a tab switching module implemented in the computing device to display, in response to the request, the second Web content in the new associated visible tab of the user interface tab and convert the old associated visible tab to an associated hidden tab of the user interface tab;
• a Web content lifetime management module implemented in the computing device to keep the first Web content in the associated hidden tab of the user interface tab while displaying the second Web content in the new associated visible tab of the user interface tab;
• and
• a Web content suspension module implemented in the computing device to suspend the first Web content.