diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 658eec2..069c544 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -290,22 +290,30 @@ agent-browser network har stop [output.har]    # Stop and save HAR (temp path if
 ### Tabs & Windows
 
 ```bash
-agent-browser tab                     # List tabs (shows stable `tabId` for each)
-agent-browser tab new [url]           # New tab (optionally with URL)
-agent-browser tab <id>                # Switch to tab by id
-agent-browser tab close [id]          # Close tab by id (defaults to active tab)
-agent-browser window new              # New window
+agent-browser tab                              # List tabs (shows `tabId` and optional label)
+agent-browser tab new [url]                    # New tab (optionally with URL)
+agent-browser tab new --label docs [url]       # New tab with a user-assigned label
+agent-browser tab <t<N>|label>                 # Switch to a tab by id or label
+agent-browser tab close [t<N>|label]           # Close a tab (defaults to active)
+agent-browser window new                       # New window
 ```
 
-Tab IDs are stable and never reused within a session, so agents can keep
-referring to the same tab across commands even if other tabs are opened or
-closed in between. To run a single command against a specific tab without
-changing the active tab, use the global `--tab <id>` flag:
+Tab ids are stable strings of the form `t1`, `t2`, `t3`. They're never reused
+within a session, so scripts and agents can keep referring to the same tab
+even after other tabs are opened or closed. Positional integers like `tab 2`
+are **not** accepted; the `t` prefix disambiguates handles from indices and
+mirrors the `@e1` convention used for element refs.
+
+You can also assign a memorable label (`docs`, `app`, `admin`) and use it
+interchangeably with the id. Labels are never auto-generated and never
+rewritten on navigation — they're yours to name and keep:
 
 ```bash
-agent-browser tab new https://docs.example.com   # opens and activates tab 2
-agent-browser --tab 1 snapshot                   # peek at tab 1 (tab 2 stays active)
-agent-browser click "#submit"                    # runs on tab 2 as expected
+agent-browser tab new --label docs https://docs.example.com
+agent-browser tab docs               # switch to the docs tab
+agent-browser snapshot               # populate refs for docs
+agent-browser click @e3              # click uses docs's refs
+agent-browser tab close docs         # close by label
 ```
 
 ### Frames
@@ -621,7 +629,6 @@ This is useful for multimodal AI models that can reason about visual layout, unl
 |--------|-------------|
 | `--session <name>` | Use isolated session (or `AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION` env) |
 | `--session-name <name>` | Auto-save/restore session state (or `AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION_NAME` env) |
-| `--tab <id>` | Target a specific tab by stable `tabId` for this command only; the active tab is restored afterward |
 | `--profile <name\|path>` | Chrome profile name or persistent directory path (or `AGENT_BROWSER_PROFILE` env) |
 | `--state <path>` | Load storage state from JSON file (or `AGENT_BROWSER_STATE` env) |
 | `--headers <json>` | Set HTTP headers scoped to the URL's origin |
diff --git a/agent-browser.schema.json b/agent-browser.schema.json
index ac92818..48e38ba 100644
--- a/agent-browser.schema.json
+++ b/agent-browser.schema.json
@@ -24,11 +24,6 @@
       "type": "string",
       "description": "Auto-save/load state persistence name."
     },
-    "tab": {
-      "type": "integer",
-      "minimum": 1,
-      "description": "Target a specific tab by stable tabId for this command only. The active tab is restored afterward."
-    },
     "executablePath": {
       "type": "string",
       "description": "Path to a custom browser executable."
diff --git a/cli/src/commands.rs b/cli/src/commands.rs
index 8345c73..5858637 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands.rs
@@ -1011,31 +1011,51 @@ fn parse_command_inner(args: &[String], flags: &Flags) -> Result<Value, ParseErr
 
         // === Tabs ===
         "tab" => {
-            const VALID: &[&str] = &["list", "new", "close", "<id>"];
             match rest.first().copied() {
                 Some("new") => {
+                    // Accepted forms:
+                    //   tab new [url]
+                    //   tab new --label <name> [url]
+                    //   tab new [url] --label <name>
                     let mut cmd = json!({ "id": id, "action": "tab_new" });
-                    if let Some(url) = rest.get(1) {
-                        cmd["url"] = json!(url);
+                    let mut i = 1;
+                    while i < rest.len() {
+                        match rest[i] {
+                            "--label" => {
+                                let name = rest.get(i + 1).ok_or(ParseError::MissingArguments {
+                                    context: "tab new --label".to_string(),
+                                    usage: "tab new --label <name> [url]",
+                                })?;
+                                cmd["label"] = json!(name);
+                                i += 2;
+                            }
+                            other if !other.starts_with("--") && cmd.get("url").is_none() => {
+                                cmd["url"] = json!(other);
+                                i += 1;
+                            }
+                            other => {
+                                return Err(ParseError::UnknownSubcommand {
+                                    subcommand: other.to_string(),
+                                    valid_options: &["--label", "<url>"],
+                                });
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
                     Ok(cmd)
                 }
                 Some("list") => Ok(json!({ "id": id, "action": "tab_list" })),
                 Some("close") => {
                     let mut cmd = json!({ "id": id, "action": "tab_close" });
-                    if let Some(tab_id) = rest.get(1).and_then(|s| s.parse::<i32>().ok()) {
-                        cmd["tabId"] = json!(tab_id);
+                    if let Some(tab_ref) = rest.get(1) {
+                        cmd["tabId"] = json!(tab_ref);
                     }
                     Ok(cmd)
                 }
-                Some(n) if n.parse::<i32>().is_ok() => {
-                    let tab_id = n.parse::<i32>().expect("already checked parse succeeds");
-                    Ok(json!({ "id": id, "action": "tab_switch", "tabId": tab_id }))
-                }
-                Some(sub) => Err(ParseError::UnknownSubcommand {
-                    subcommand: sub.to_string(),
-                    valid_options: VALID,
-                }),
+                Some(tab_ref) => Ok(json!({
+                    "id": id,
+                    "action": "tab_switch",
+                    "tabId": tab_ref,
+                })),
                 None => Ok(json!({ "id": id, "action": "tab_list" })),
             }
         }
@@ -2342,7 +2362,6 @@ mod tests {
     fn default_flags() -> Flags {
         Flags {
             session: "test".to_string(),
-            tab: None,
             json: false,
             headed: false,
             debug: false,
@@ -2852,10 +2871,17 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn test_tab_switch() {
-        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab 2"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
+    fn test_tab_switch_by_id() {
+        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab t2"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(cmd["action"], "tab_switch");
-        assert_eq!(cmd["tabId"], 2);
+        assert_eq!(cmd["tabId"], "t2");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_tab_switch_by_label() {
+        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab docs"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cmd["action"], "tab_switch");
+        assert_eq!(cmd["tabId"], "docs");
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -2866,23 +2892,57 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn test_tab_close_with_id() {
-        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab close 2"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
+        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab close t2"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(cmd["action"], "tab_close");
-        assert_eq!(cmd["tabId"], 2);
+        assert_eq!(cmd["tabId"], "t2");
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn test_tab_switch_sends_tab_id() {
-        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab 2"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(cmd["tabId"], 2);
+    fn test_tab_close_with_label() {
+        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab close docs"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cmd["action"], "tab_close");
+        assert_eq!(cmd["tabId"], "docs");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_tab_sends_string_tab_id() {
+        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab t2"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            cmd["tabId"].is_string(),
+            "tabId must be a string, got: {:?}",
+            cmd["tabId"]
+        );
         assert!(cmd.get("index").is_none());
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn test_tab_close_sends_tab_id() {
-        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab close 3"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(cmd["tabId"], 3);
-        assert!(cmd.get("index").is_none());
+    fn test_tab_new_with_label() {
+        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab new --label docs"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cmd["action"], "tab_new");
+        assert_eq!(cmd["label"], "docs");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_tab_new_with_label_and_url() {
+        let cmd = parse_command(
+            &args("tab new --label docs https://docs.example.com"),
+            &default_flags(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cmd["action"], "tab_new");
+        assert_eq!(cmd["label"], "docs");
+        assert_eq!(cmd["url"], "https://docs.example.com");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_tab_new_with_url_then_label() {
+        let cmd = parse_command(
+            &args("tab new https://docs.example.com --label docs"),
+            &default_flags(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cmd["url"], "https://docs.example.com");
+        assert_eq!(cmd["label"], "docs");
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -2892,14 +2952,30 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn test_tab_unknown_subcommand_errors() {
-        let result = parse_command(&args("tab select 3"), &default_flags());
+    fn test_tab_unknown_flag_errors() {
+        // Unknown flags on `tab new` must error instead of being silently
+        // dropped. This protects against typos like `--labl` or `--new-tab`.
+        let result = parse_command(
+            &args("tab new --unknown-flag https://example.com"),
+            &default_flags(),
+        );
         assert!(
             result.is_err(),
-            "tab select should error, not silently fall through to tab_list"
+            "tab new with an unknown flag must error, got: {:?}",
+            result
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_tab_non_keyword_treated_as_ref() {
+        // After the shift to `t<N>`/label ids, non-keyword tokens (`select`,
+        // `docs`, etc.) are valid label refs; `tab <something>` routes to
+        // tab_switch and the runtime decides whether the label exists.
+        let cmd = parse_command(&args("tab select"), &default_flags()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(cmd["action"], "tab_switch");
+        assert_eq!(cmd["tabId"], "select");
+    }
+
     // === Network ===
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/cli/src/flags.rs b/cli/src/flags.rs
index 924fc14..6e517c9 100644
--- a/cli/src/flags.rs
+++ b/cli/src/flags.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub json: Option<bool>,
     pub debug: Option<bool>,
     pub session: Option<String>,
-    pub tab: Option<u32>,
     pub session_name: Option<String>,
     pub executable_path: Option<String>,
     pub extensions: Option<Vec<String>>,
@@ -99,7 +98,6 @@ impl Config {
             json: other.json.or(self.json),
             debug: other.debug.or(self.debug),
             session: other.session.or(self.session),
-            tab: other.tab.or(self.tab),
             session_name: other.session_name.or(self.session_name),
             executable_path: other.executable_path.or(self.executable_path),
             extensions: match (self.extensions, other.extensions) {
@@ -198,7 +196,6 @@ fn parse_bool_arg(args: &[String], i: usize) -> (bool, bool) {
 fn extract_config_path(args: &[String]) -> Option<Option<String>> {
     const FLAGS_WITH_VALUE: &[&str] = &[
         "--session",
-        "--tab",
         "--headers",
         "--executable-path",
         "--cdp",
@@ -276,7 +273,6 @@ pub struct Flags {
     pub headed: bool,
     pub debug: bool,
     pub session: String,
-    pub tab: Option<u32>,
     pub headers: Option<String>,
     pub executable_path: Option<String>,
     pub cdp: Option<String>,
@@ -359,7 +355,6 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
             .ok()
             .or(config.session)
             .unwrap_or_else(|| "default".to_string()),
-        tab: config.tab,
         headers: config.headers,
         executable_path: env::var("AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH")
             .ok()
@@ -497,12 +492,6 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
                     i += 1;
                 }
             }
-            "--tab" => {
-                if let Some(s) = args.get(i + 1) {
-                    flags.tab = s.parse::<u32>().ok();
-                    i += 1;
-                }
-            }
             "--idle-timeout" => {
                 if let Some(s) = args.get(i + 1) {
                     match parse_idle_timeout(s) {
@@ -786,7 +775,6 @@ pub fn clean_args(args: &[String]) -> Vec<String> {
     // Global flags that always take a value (need to skip the next arg too)
     const GLOBAL_FLAGS_WITH_VALUE: &[&str] = &[
         "--session",
-        "--tab",
         "--headers",
         "--executable-path",
         "--cdp",
@@ -1453,25 +1441,4 @@ mod tests {
         let clean = clean_args(&input);
         assert_eq!(clean, vec!["open", "example.com"]);
     }
-
-    // === Tab flag tests ===
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_parse_tab_flag() {
-        let flags = parse_flags(&args("--tab 4 snapshot"));
-        assert_eq!(flags.tab, Some(4));
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_clean_args_removes_tab_flag() {
-        let cleaned = clean_args(&args("--tab 4 snapshot"));
-        assert_eq!(cleaned, vec!["snapshot"]);
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_parse_tab_config() {
-        let json = r#"{"tab": 4}"#;
-        let config: Config = serde_json::from_str(json).unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(config.tab, Some(4));
-    }
 }
diff --git a/cli/src/main.rs b/cli/src/main.rs
index c6eab4b..afc8cb4 100644
--- a/cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/cli/src/main.rs
@@ -738,12 +738,6 @@ fn main() {
         }
     };
 
-    if let Some(tab_id) = flags.tab {
-        if cmd.get("tabId").is_none() {
-            cmd["tabId"] = json!(tab_id);
-        }
-    }
-
     // Handle --password-stdin for auth save
     if cmd.get("action").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) == Some("auth_save") {
         if cmd.get("password").is_some() {
diff --git a/cli/src/native/actions.rs b/cli/src/native/actions.rs
index 73e75e6..0d42768 100644
--- a/cli/src/native/actions.rs
+++ b/cli/src/native/actions.rs
@@ -665,6 +665,7 @@ impl DaemonState {
                     let tab_id = mgr.assign_tab_id();
                     mgr.add_page(super::browser::PageInfo {
                         tab_id,
+                        label: None,
                         target_id: te.target_info.target_id.clone(),
                         session_id: attach.session_id,
                         url: te.target_info.url.clone(),
@@ -1275,44 +1276,6 @@ pub async fn execute_command(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Value {
         );
     }
 
-    // Pre-dispatch: if `tabId` is set on a non-tab command, temporarily switch
-    // to that tab for the duration of the command and restore the original
-    // active tab after. This lets `--tab N <cmd>` target a specific tab
-    // without stealing the user's active-tab context.
-    //
-    // We save the current tab's stable `tab_id` (not its array index) so a
-    // tab close during the scoped command doesn't leave us restoring to a
-    // shifted position. If the saved tab was closed, we skip the restore.
-    let restore_tab_id: Option<u32> = if !matches!(
-        action,
-        "tab_list" | "tab_new" | "tab_switch" | "tab_close" | "launch" | "close"
-    ) {
-        if let Some(target_tab_id) = cmd.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_u64()) {
-            let target_tab_id = target_tab_id as u32;
-            let current_tab_id = state.browser.as_ref().and_then(|mgr| mgr.active_tab_id());
-            if current_tab_id == Some(target_tab_id) {
-                // Already on the target tab; nothing to do.
-                None
-            } else {
-                // Clear per-tab daemon state before switching so refs from the
-                // outer tab can't resolve against the target tab's DOM.
-                state.ref_map.clear();
-                state.iframe_sessions.clear();
-                state.active_frame_id = None;
-                if let Some(ref mut mgr) = state.browser {
-                    if let Err(e) = mgr.tab_switch_by_id(target_tab_id).await {
-                        return error_response(&id, &e);
-                    }
-                }
-                current_tab_id
-            }
-        } else {
-            None
-        }
-    } else {
-        None
-    };
-
     let result = match action {
         "launch" => handle_launch(cmd, state).await,
         "navigate" => handle_navigate(cmd, state).await,
@@ -1471,24 +1434,6 @@ pub async fn execute_command(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Value {
         _ => Err(format!("Not yet implemented: {}", action)),
     };
 
-    // Post-dispatch: if we temporarily switched tabs for this command, restore
-    // the original active tab. Skip silently if the tab no longer exists (e.g.
-    // the scoped command closed it).
-    if let Some(restore_tab_id) = restore_tab_id {
-        let still_exists = state
-            .browser
-            .as_ref()
-            .is_some_and(|mgr| mgr.has_tab_id(restore_tab_id));
-        if still_exists {
-            state.ref_map.clear();
-            state.iframe_sessions.clear();
-            state.active_frame_id = None;
-            if let Some(ref mut mgr) = state.browser {
-                let _ = mgr.tab_switch_by_id(restore_tab_id).await;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     let mut resp = match result {
         Ok(data) => success_response(&id, data),
         Err(e) => error_response(&id, &super::browser::to_ai_friendly_error(&e)),
@@ -1545,7 +1490,7 @@ pub async fn execute_command(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Value {
 /// subsequent navigations don't hijack the user's existing tabs.
 async fn connect_auto_with_fresh_tab() -> Result<BrowserManager, String> {
     let mut mgr = BrowserManager::connect_auto().await?;
-    mgr.tab_new(None).await?;
+    mgr.tab_new(None, None).await?;
     let session_id = mgr.active_session_id()?.to_string();
     let _ = mgr
         .client
@@ -2648,7 +2593,7 @@ async fn handle_click(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Result<Value, Str
 
         let mgr = state.browser.as_mut().ok_or("Browser not launched")?;
         state.ref_map.clear();
-        mgr.tab_new(Some(&href)).await?;
+        mgr.tab_new(Some(&href), None).await?;
 
         return Ok(json!({ "clicked": selector, "newTab": true, "url": href }));
     }
@@ -3697,18 +3642,21 @@ async fn handle_tab_list(state: &DaemonState) -> Result<Value, String> {
 async fn handle_tab_new(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Result<Value, String> {
     let mgr = state.browser.as_mut().ok_or("Browser not launched")?;
     let url = cmd.get("url").and_then(|v| v.as_str());
+    let label = cmd.get("label").and_then(|v| v.as_str());
     state.ref_map.clear();
     state.iframe_sessions.clear();
     state.active_frame_id = None;
-    mgr.tab_new(url).await
+    mgr.tab_new(url, label).await
 }
 
 async fn handle_tab_switch(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Result<Value, String> {
     let mgr = state.browser.as_mut().ok_or("Browser not launched")?;
-    let tab_id = cmd
+    let tab_ref_str = cmd
         .get("tabId")
-        .and_then(|v| v.as_u64())
-        .ok_or("Missing 'tabId' parameter")? as u32;
+        .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
+        .ok_or("Missing 'tabId' parameter (expected `t<N>` or a label)")?;
+    let tab_ref = super::browser::TabRef::parse(tab_ref_str)?;
+    let tab_id = mgr.resolve_tab_ref(&tab_ref)?;
     state.ref_map.clear();
     state.iframe_sessions.clear();
     state.active_frame_id = None;
@@ -3737,7 +3685,13 @@ async fn handle_tab_switch(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Result<Value
 
 async fn handle_tab_close(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Result<Value, String> {
     let mgr = state.browser.as_mut().ok_or("Browser not launched")?;
-    let tab_id = cmd.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_u64()).map(|i| i as u32);
+    let tab_id = match cmd.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) {
+        Some(s) => {
+            let tab_ref = super::browser::TabRef::parse(s)?;
+            Some(mgr.resolve_tab_ref(&tab_ref)?)
+        }
+        None => None,
+    };
     state.ref_map.clear();
     state.iframe_sessions.clear();
     state.active_frame_id = None;
@@ -4123,6 +4077,7 @@ async fn handle_recording_start(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Result<
         let tab_id = mgr.assign_tab_id();
         mgr.add_page(super::browser::PageInfo {
             tab_id,
+            label: None,
             target_id: create_result.target_id,
             session_id: new_session_id.clone(),
             url: nav_url.clone(),
@@ -6036,6 +5991,7 @@ async fn handle_window_new(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Result<Value
     let tab_id = mgr.assign_tab_id();
     mgr.add_page(super::browser::PageInfo {
         tab_id,
+        label: None,
         target_id: create_result.target_id,
         session_id: attach.session_id,
         url: "about:blank".to_string(),
@@ -6063,7 +6019,10 @@ async fn handle_window_new(cmd: &Value, state: &mut DaemonState) -> Result<Value
     let total = mgr.page_count();
     state.ref_map.clear();
 
-    Ok(json!({ "tabId": tab_id, "total": total }))
+    Ok(json!({
+        "tabId": super::browser::format_tab_id(tab_id),
+        "total": total,
+    }))
 }
 
 async fn handle_diff_screenshot(cmd: &Value, state: &DaemonState) -> Result<Value, String> {
diff --git a/cli/src/native/browser.rs b/cli/src/native/browser.rs
index 87eb3de..abaa5db 100644
--- a/cli/src/native/browser.rs
+++ b/cli/src/native/browser.rs
@@ -159,6 +159,12 @@ pub fn to_ai_friendly_error(error: &str) -> String {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct PageInfo {
     pub tab_id: u32,
+    /// Optional user-assigned label (e.g. "docs", "app"). Set via
+    /// `tab new --label <name>`. Labels are agent-assigned and never
+    /// auto-generated, never rewritten on navigation, and unique within a
+    /// session. Agents use labels instead of `t<N>` for readable multi-tab
+    /// workflows.
+    pub label: Option<String>,
     pub target_id: String,
     pub session_id: String,
     pub url: String,
@@ -166,6 +172,77 @@ pub struct PageInfo {
     pub target_type: String, // "page" or "webview"
 }
 
+/// Canonical string form of a stable tab id: `t1`, `t2`, ... The `t` prefix
+/// disambiguates stable ids from positional indices (which the CLI no longer
+/// accepts) and matches the `@e<N>` convention used for element refs.
+pub fn format_tab_id(tab_id: u32) -> String {
+    format!("t{}", tab_id)
+}
+
+/// A tab reference as parsed from CLI/JSON input. Either a stable id like
+/// `t2` or a user-assigned label like `docs`.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum TabRef {
+    Id(u32),
+    Label(String),
+}
+
+impl TabRef {
+    /// Parse a user-supplied string tab reference. Rejects bare integers
+    /// with a teaching error so agents and scripts don't silently confuse
+    /// stable ids with positional indices.
+    pub fn parse(input: &str) -> Result<Self, String> {
+        let input = input.trim();
+        if input.is_empty() {
+            return Err("Empty tab reference; expected `t<N>` (e.g. `t2`) or a label".to_string());
+        }
+        if let Some(digits) = input.strip_prefix('t').or_else(|| input.strip_prefix('T')) {
+            if !digits.is_empty() && digits.chars().all(|c| c.is_ascii_digit()) {
+                let id: u32 = digits.parse().map_err(|_| {
+                    format!(
+                        "Tab id `{}` out of range; ids are incrementing positive integers",
+                        input
+                    )
+                })?;
+                if id == 0 {
+                    return Err(format!(
+                        "Tab id `{}` is invalid; tab ids start at t1",
+                        input
+                    ));
+                }
+                return Ok(TabRef::Id(id));
+            }
+        }
+        if input.chars().all(|c| c.is_ascii_digit()) {
+            return Err(format!(
+                "Expected a tab id like `t{}` or a label; positional integers are not accepted \
+                 (run `agent-browser tab` to list stable tab ids)",
+                input
+            ));
+        }
+        if !is_valid_label(input) {
+            return Err(format!(
+                "Invalid tab label `{}`; labels must start with a letter and contain only \
+                 letters, digits, `-`, and `_`",
+                input
+            ));
+        }
+        Ok(TabRef::Label(input.to_string()))
+    }
+}
+
+/// Labels must look like identifiers: start with a letter, contain only
+/// letters/digits/dashes/underscores. This keeps them distinguishable from
+/// `t<N>` ids at a glance and safe to pass through shells without quoting.
+pub fn is_valid_label(s: &str) -> bool {
+    let mut chars = s.chars();
+    match chars.next() {
+        Some(c) if c.is_ascii_alphabetic() => {}
+        _ => return false,
+    }
+    chars.all(|c| c.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || c == '-' || c == '_')
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum WaitUntil {
     Load,
@@ -395,6 +472,7 @@ impl BrowserManager {
             let tab_id = manager.assign_tab_id();
             manager.pages.push(PageInfo {
                 tab_id,
+                label: None,
                 target_id: "provider-page".to_string(),
                 session_id: String::new(),
                 url: String::new(),
@@ -463,6 +541,7 @@ impl BrowserManager {
             self.next_tab_id += 1;
             self.pages.push(PageInfo {
                 tab_id,
+                label: None,
                 target_id: result.target_id,
                 session_id: attach_result.session_id.clone(),
                 url: "about:blank".to_string(),
@@ -489,6 +568,7 @@ impl BrowserManager {
                 self.next_tab_id += 1;
                 self.pages.push(PageInfo {
                     tab_id,
+                    label: None,
                     target_id: target.target_id.clone(),
                     session_id: attach_result.session_id.clone(),
                     url: target.url.clone(),
@@ -837,6 +917,7 @@ impl BrowserManager {
         self.next_tab_id += 1;
         self.pages.push(PageInfo {
             tab_id,
+            label: None,
             target_id: result.target_id,
             session_id: attach_result.session_id.clone(),
             url: "about:blank".to_string(),
@@ -879,7 +960,8 @@ impl BrowserManager {
             .enumerate()
             .map(|(i, p)| {
                 json!({
-                    "tabId": p.tab_id,
+                    "tabId": format_tab_id(p.tab_id),
+                    "label": p.label,
                     "title": p.title,
                     "url": p.url,
                     "type": p.target_type,
@@ -889,7 +971,61 @@ impl BrowserManager {
             .collect()
     }
 
-    pub async fn tab_new(&mut self, url: Option<&str>) -> Result<Value, String> {
+    /// Resolve a user-supplied `TabRef` (either `t<N>` or a label) to the
+    /// stable numeric `tab_id`. Returns a teaching error for unknown tabs.
+    pub fn resolve_tab_ref(&self, tab_ref: &TabRef) -> Result<u32, String> {
+        match tab_ref {
+            TabRef::Id(id) => {
+                if self.has_tab_id(*id) {
+                    Ok(*id)
+                } else {
+                    Err(format!(
+                        "Tab {} not found; run `agent-browser tab` to list open tabs",
+                        format_tab_id(*id)
+                    ))
+                }
+            }
+            TabRef::Label(name) => self
+                .pages
+                .iter()
+                .find(|p| p.label.as_deref() == Some(name.as_str()))
+                .map(|p| p.tab_id)
+                .ok_or_else(|| {
+                    format!(
+                        "No tab with label `{}`; run `agent-browser tab` to list open tabs",
+                        name
+                    )
+                }),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns true iff a tab already carries the given label.
+    pub fn has_label(&self, label: &str) -> bool {
+        self.pages.iter().any(|p| p.label.as_deref() == Some(label))
+    }
+
+    pub async fn tab_new(
+        &mut self,
+        url: Option<&str>,
+        label: Option<&str>,
+    ) -> Result<Value, String> {
+        if let Some(label) = label {
+            if !is_valid_label(label) {
+                return Err(format!(
+                    "Invalid tab label `{}`; labels must start with a letter and contain only \
+                     letters, digits, `-`, and `_`",
+                    label
+                ));
+            }
+            if self.has_label(label) {
+                return Err(format!(
+                    "Label `{}` is already used by another tab; labels must be unique within a \
+                     session",
+                    label
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+
         let target_url = url.unwrap_or("about:blank");
 
         let result: CreateTargetResult = self
@@ -920,8 +1056,10 @@ impl BrowserManager {
         let tab_id = self.next_tab_id;
         self.next_tab_id += 1;
         let index = self.pages.len();
+        let label = label.map(|s| s.to_string());
         self.pages.push(PageInfo {
             tab_id,
+            label: label.clone(),
             target_id: result.target_id,
             session_id: attach.session_id,
             url: target_url.to_string(),
@@ -930,7 +1068,12 @@ impl BrowserManager {
         });
         self.active_page_index = index;
 
-        Ok(json!({ "tabId": tab_id, "url": target_url, "total": self.pages.len() }))
+        Ok(json!({
+            "tabId": format_tab_id(tab_id),
+            "label": label,
+            "url": target_url,
+            "total": self.pages.len(),
+        }))
     }
 
     pub async fn tab_switch(&mut self, index: usize) -> Result<Value, String> {
@@ -960,8 +1103,13 @@ impl BrowserManager {
             page.title = title.clone();
         }
 
-        let tab_id = self.pages[index].tab_id;
-        Ok(json!({ "tabId": tab_id, "url": url, "title": title }))
+        let page = &self.pages[index];
+        Ok(json!({
+            "tabId": format_tab_id(page.tab_id),
+            "label": page.label,
+            "url": url,
+            "title": title,
+        }))
     }
 
     pub async fn tab_close(&mut self, index: Option<usize>) -> Result<Value, String> {
@@ -978,6 +1126,7 @@ impl BrowserManager {
         let page = self.pages.remove(target_index);
         self.update_active_page_after_removal(target_index);
         let closed_tab_id = page.tab_id;
+        let closed_label = page.label.clone();
         let _ = self
             .client
             .send_command_typed::<_, Value>(
@@ -992,7 +1141,11 @@ impl BrowserManager {
         let session_id = self.pages[self.active_page_index].session_id.clone();
         self.enable_domains(&session_id).await?;
 
-        Ok(json!({ "tabId": closed_tab_id, "closed": true }))
+        Ok(json!({
+            "tabId": format_tab_id(closed_tab_id),
+            "label": closed_label,
+            "closed": true,
+        }))
     }
 
     // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1557,6 +1710,75 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use tokio::time::sleep;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_format_tab_id() {
+        assert_eq!(format_tab_id(1), "t1");
+        assert_eq!(format_tab_id(42), "t42");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_tab_ref_id() {
+        assert_eq!(TabRef::parse("t1"), Ok(TabRef::Id(1)));
+        assert_eq!(TabRef::parse("t42"), Ok(TabRef::Id(42)));
+        assert_eq!(TabRef::parse("T7"), Ok(TabRef::Id(7)));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_tab_ref_label() {
+        assert_eq!(TabRef::parse("docs"), Ok(TabRef::Label("docs".to_string())));
+        assert_eq!(
+            TabRef::parse("app-2"),
+            Ok(TabRef::Label("app-2".to_string()))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            TabRef::parse("my_tab"),
+            Ok(TabRef::Label("my_tab".to_string()))
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_tab_ref_rejects_bare_integer() {
+        let err = TabRef::parse("2").unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.contains("positional integers are not accepted"),
+            "error should teach the user to use `t<N>`: {}",
+            err
+        );
+        assert!(err.contains("t2"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_tab_ref_rejects_empty() {
+        assert!(TabRef::parse("").is_err());
+        assert!(TabRef::parse("   ").is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_tab_ref_rejects_zero() {
+        let err = TabRef::parse("t0").unwrap_err();
+        assert!(err.contains("start at t1"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_tab_ref_rejects_invalid_label() {
+        assert!(TabRef::parse("2docs").is_err());
+        assert!(TabRef::parse("-docs").is_err());
+        assert!(TabRef::parse("docs!").is_err());
+        assert!(TabRef::parse("docs space").is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_is_valid_label() {
+        assert!(is_valid_label("docs"));
+        assert!(is_valid_label("Docs"));
+        assert!(is_valid_label("app-2"));
+        assert!(is_valid_label("my_tab"));
+        assert!(!is_valid_label(""));
+        assert!(!is_valid_label("2docs"));
+        assert!(!is_valid_label("-docs"));
+        assert!(!is_valid_label("docs!"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_should_track_popup_target_with_empty_url() {
         let target = TargetInfo {
@@ -1589,6 +1811,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_update_page_target_info_in_pages_updates_existing_page() {
         let mut pages = vec![PageInfo {
             tab_id: 1,
+            label: None,
             target_id: "popup-1".to_string(),
             session_id: "session-1".to_string(),
             url: String::new(),
diff --git a/cli/src/native/e2e_tests.rs b/cli/src/native/e2e_tests.rs
index 7bfb622..21b0d7a 100644
--- a/cli/src/native/e2e_tests.rs
+++ b/cli/src/native/e2e_tests.rs
@@ -911,7 +911,7 @@ async fn e2e_tabs() {
     let tabs = get_data(&resp)["tabs"].as_array().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(tabs.len(), 1);
     assert_eq!(tabs[0]["active"], true);
-    assert_eq!(tabs[0]["tabId"], 1, "First tab should have tabId 1");
+    assert_eq!(tabs[0]["tabId"], "t1", "First tab should have tabId t1");
 
     // Open new tab
     let resp = execute_command(
@@ -920,7 +920,11 @@ async fn e2e_tabs() {
     )
     .await;
     assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], 2, "New tab should have tabId 2");
+    assert_eq!(
+        get_data(&resp)["tabId"],
+        "t2",
+        "New tab should have tabId t2"
+    );
     assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["total"], 2);
 
     // Tab list should show 2 tabs with distinct, incrementing tabIds
@@ -929,12 +933,12 @@ async fn e2e_tabs() {
     let tabs = get_data(&resp)["tabs"].as_array().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(tabs.len(), 2);
     assert_eq!(tabs[1]["active"], true);
-    assert_eq!(tabs[0]["tabId"], 1, "First tab should keep tabId 1");
-    assert_eq!(tabs[1]["tabId"], 2, "Second tab should have tabId 2");
+    assert_eq!(tabs[0]["tabId"], "t1", "First tab should keep tabId t1");
+    assert_eq!(tabs[1]["tabId"], "t2", "Second tab should have tabId t2");
 
     // Switch to first tab
     let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "6", "action": "tab_switch", "tabId": 1 }),
+        &json!({ "id": "6", "action": "tab_switch", "tabId": "t1" }),
         &mut state,
     )
     .await;
@@ -950,7 +954,7 @@ async fn e2e_tabs() {
 
     // Close second tab
     let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "8", "action": "tab_close", "tabId": 2 }),
+        &json!({ "id": "8", "action": "tab_close", "tabId": "t2" }),
         &mut state,
     )
     .await;
@@ -982,7 +986,7 @@ async fn e2e_tab_ids_not_reused() {
     let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "2", "action": "tab_list" }), &mut state).await;
     assert_success(&resp);
     let tabs = get_data(&resp)["tabs"].as_array().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(tabs[0]["tabId"], 1);
+    assert_eq!(tabs[0]["tabId"], "t1");
 
     // Open tab 2 and tab 3
     let resp = execute_command(
@@ -991,7 +995,7 @@ async fn e2e_tab_ids_not_reused() {
     )
     .await;
     assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], 2);
+    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], "t2");
 
     let resp = execute_command(
         &json!({ "id": "4", "action": "tab_new", "url": "data:text/html,<h1>Tab 3</h1>" }),
@@ -999,11 +1003,11 @@ async fn e2e_tab_ids_not_reused() {
     )
     .await;
     assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], 3);
+    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], "t3");
 
     // Close tab 2
     let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "5", "action": "tab_close", "tabId": 2 }),
+        &json!({ "id": "5", "action": "tab_close", "tabId": "t2" }),
         &mut state,
     )
     .await;
@@ -1018,406 +1022,31 @@ async fn e2e_tab_ids_not_reused() {
     assert_success(&resp);
     assert_eq!(
         get_data(&resp)["tabId"],
-        4,
+        "t4",
         "Tab IDs must not be reused after closing"
     );
 
-    // Verify final state: tabs 1, 3, 4
+    // Verify final state: tabs t1, t3, t4
     let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "7", "action": "tab_list" }), &mut state).await;
     assert_success(&resp);
     let tabs = get_data(&resp)["tabs"].as_array().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(tabs.len(), 3);
-    let ids: Vec<i64> = tabs.iter().map(|t| t["tabId"].as_i64().unwrap()).collect();
-    assert_eq!(ids, vec![1, 3, 4]);
+    let ids: Vec<String> = tabs
+        .iter()
+        .map(|t| t["tabId"].as_str().unwrap().to_string())
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(ids, vec!["t1", "t3", "t4"]);
 
     let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
     assert_success(&resp);
 }
 
+/// `tab_close` with an explicit `tabId` must close that tab regardless of
+/// whether it's active, and leave the remaining tab active without leaking
+/// per-tab state (refs, iframe sessions, frame id) from the closed tab.
 #[tokio::test]
 #[ignore]
-async fn e2e_tab_global_targeting() {
-    let mut state = DaemonState::new();
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "1", "action": "launch", "headless": true }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    // Navigate tab 1
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "2", "action": "navigate", "url": "data:text/html,<h1>Page A</h1>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    // Open tab 2 (becomes active)
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "3", "action": "tab_new", "url": "data:text/html,<h1>Page B</h1>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], 2);
-
-    // Use tabId to evaluate on tab 1 while tab 2 is active
-    // (simulates --tab 1 evaluate ...)
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "4", "action": "evaluate", "tabId": 1, "script": "document.querySelector('h1').textContent" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(
-        get_data(&resp)["result"],
-        "Page A",
-        "tabId should target tab 1 even though tab 2 was active"
-    );
-
-    // Verify tab 2 content is still accessible
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "5", "action": "evaluate", "tabId": 2, "script": "document.querySelector('h1').textContent" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["result"], "Page B");
-
-    // Without tabId, should use the current active tab (now tab 1 from the switch)
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "6", "action": "evaluate", "script": "document.querySelector('h1').textContent" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    // Active tab was never changed by the scoped `tabId` commands
-    // (restoration semantics), so it's still tab 2 from the earlier `tab_new`.
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["result"], "Page B");
-
-    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-}
-
-#[tokio::test]
-#[ignore]
-async fn e2e_tab_global_targeting_snapshot() {
-    let mut state = DaemonState::new();
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "1", "action": "launch", "headless": true }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    // Navigate tab 1
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "2", "action": "navigate", "url": "data:text/html,<h1>Page A</h1>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    // Open tab 2 (becomes active)
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "3", "action": "tab_new", "url": "data:text/html,<h1>Page B</h1>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], 2);
-
-    // Snapshot tab 1 via tabId while tab 2 is active
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "4", "action": "snapshot", "tabId": 1 }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    let snapshot = get_data(&resp)["snapshot"].as_str().unwrap();
-    assert!(
-        snapshot.contains("Page A"),
-        "Snapshot with tabId=1 should contain 'Page A', got: {}",
-        snapshot
-    );
-    assert!(
-        !snapshot.contains("Page B"),
-        "Snapshot with tabId=1 should NOT contain 'Page B', got: {}",
-        snapshot
-    );
-
-    // Snapshot tab 2 via tabId
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "5", "action": "snapshot", "tabId": 2 }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    let snapshot = get_data(&resp)["snapshot"].as_str().unwrap();
-    assert!(
-        snapshot.contains("Page B"),
-        "Snapshot with tabId=2 should contain 'Page B', got: {}",
-        snapshot
-    );
-    assert!(
-        !snapshot.contains("Page A"),
-        "Snapshot with tabId=2 should NOT contain 'Page A', got: {}",
-        snapshot
-    );
-
-    // Snapshot without tabId uses the still-active tab 2 (restoration
-    // semantics: scoped commands don't change the active tab).
-    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "6", "action": "snapshot" }), &mut state).await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    let snapshot = get_data(&resp)["snapshot"].as_str().unwrap();
-    assert!(
-        snapshot.contains("Page B"),
-        "Snapshot without tabId should use active tab (Page B), got: {}",
-        snapshot
-    );
-
-    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-}
-
-#[tokio::test]
-#[ignore]
-async fn e2e_tab_global_targeting_snapshot_non_contiguous() {
-    // Reproduces the bug where --tab 3 snapshot shows tab 1's content
-    // when tab IDs are non-contiguous (e.g. tabs [1] and [3] after
-    // closing tab [2]).
-    let mut state = DaemonState::new();
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "1", "action": "launch", "headless": true }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    // Navigate tab 1 to Page A
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "2", "action": "navigate", "url": "data:text/html,<h1>Page A</h1>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    // Open tab 2
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "3", "action": "tab_new", "url": "data:text/html,<h1>Page B</h1>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], 2);
-
-    // Open tab 3
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "4", "action": "tab_new", "url": "data:text/html,<h1>Page C</h1>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], 3);
-
-    // Close tab 2 to create non-contiguous IDs: [1, 3]
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "5", "action": "tab_close", "tabId": 2 }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    // Verify tab list shows [1] and [3]
-    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "6", "action": "tab_list" }), &mut state).await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    let tabs = get_data(&resp)["tabs"].as_array().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(tabs.len(), 2);
-    assert_eq!(tabs[0]["tabId"], 1);
-    assert_eq!(tabs[1]["tabId"], 3);
-
-    // Switch active tab back to tab 1
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "7", "action": "tab_switch", "tabId": 1 }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    // Snapshot tab 3 via tabId while tab 1 is active
-    // (simulates: --tab 3 snapshot)
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "8", "action": "snapshot", "tabId": 3 }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    let snapshot = get_data(&resp)["snapshot"].as_str().unwrap();
-    assert!(
-        snapshot.contains("Page C"),
-        "Snapshot with tabId=3 should contain 'Page C', got: {}",
-        snapshot
-    );
-    assert!(
-        !snapshot.contains("Page A"),
-        "Snapshot with tabId=3 should NOT contain 'Page A', got: {}",
-        snapshot
-    );
-
-    // Snapshot tab 1 via tabId
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "9", "action": "snapshot", "tabId": 1 }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    let snapshot = get_data(&resp)["snapshot"].as_str().unwrap();
-    assert!(
-        snapshot.contains("Page A"),
-        "Snapshot with tabId=1 should contain 'Page A', got: {}",
-        snapshot
-    );
-    assert!(
-        !snapshot.contains("Page C"),
-        "Snapshot with tabId=1 should NOT contain 'Page C', got: {}",
-        snapshot
-    );
-
-    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-}
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// `--tab` / `tabId` scoped-command regression tests
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-/// `tabId`-scoped commands must clear `state.ref_map`, `state.iframe_sessions`,
-/// and `state.active_frame_id` when they temporarily switch tabs, otherwise
-/// refs from the outer tab would resolve against the scoped tab's DOM.
-#[tokio::test]
-#[ignore]
-async fn e2e_tab_scoped_command_clears_state_on_switch() {
-    let mut state = DaemonState::new();
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "1", "action": "launch", "headless": true }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "2", "action": "navigate", "url": "data:text/html,<button>Alpha</button>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "3", "action": "tab_new", "url": "data:text/html,<p>Beta</p>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], 2);
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "4", "action": "tab_switch", "tabId": 1 }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "5", "action": "snapshot" }), &mut state).await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert!(
-        state.ref_map.get("e1").is_some(),
-        "snapshot should populate @e1 on tab 1"
-    );
-
-    // Run a tabId-scoped command. The pre-dispatch must clear per-tab state
-    // so nothing can leak into the scoped tab's context.
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "6", "action": "title", "tabId": 2 }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    assert!(
-        state.ref_map.get("e1").is_none(),
-        "ref_map must be cleared when a tabId-scoped command switches tabs, \
-         but @e1 is still present: {:?}",
-        state.ref_map.get("e1")
-    );
-    assert!(state.iframe_sessions.is_empty());
-    assert!(state.active_frame_id.is_none());
-
-    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-}
-
-/// `tabId`-scoped commands must restore the original active tab afterward so
-/// `--tab N` is a non-intrusive peek that doesn't change the user's context.
-#[tokio::test]
-#[ignore]
-async fn e2e_tab_scoped_command_restores_active_tab() {
-    let mut state = DaemonState::new();
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "1", "action": "launch", "headless": true }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "2", "action": "navigate", "url": "data:text/html,<title>A</title>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "3", "action": "tab_new", "url": "data:text/html,<title>B</title>" }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], 2);
-
-    // Active tab is 2. Peek at tab 1 with a scoped command.
-    let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "4", "action": "title", "tabId": 1 }),
-        &mut state,
-    )
-    .await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["title"], "A", "tabId should route to tab 1");
-
-    // No tabId: must reflect the originally active tab (tab 2).
-    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "5", "action": "title" }), &mut state).await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-    assert_eq!(
-        get_data(&resp)["title"],
-        "B",
-        "active tab should be restored to tab 2 after the scoped command; \
-         got the scoped tab's title instead"
-    );
-
-    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
-    assert_success(&resp);
-}
-
-/// Restoration must be skipped (without error) if the scoped command closes
-/// the tab that was active before the switch.
-#[tokio::test]
-#[ignore]
-async fn e2e_tab_scoped_command_handles_outer_tab_closed() {
+async fn e2e_tab_close_with_tab_id_closes_active_tab() {
     let mut state = DaemonState::new();
 
     let resp = execute_command(
@@ -1441,11 +1070,8 @@ async fn e2e_tab_scoped_command_handles_outer_tab_closed() {
     .await;
     assert_success(&resp);
 
-    // Active tab is 2. Peek at tab 1 with a command that also closes tab 2.
-    // The restoration path must not error when it discovers tab 2 is gone;
-    // we treat "outer tab vanished" as an implicit accept of the scoped tab.
     let resp = execute_command(
-        &json!({ "id": "4", "action": "tab_close", "tabId": 2 }),
+        &json!({ "id": "4", "action": "tab_close", "tabId": "t2" }),
         &mut state,
     )
     .await;
@@ -1454,6 +1080,174 @@ async fn e2e_tab_scoped_command_handles_outer_tab_closed() {
     let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "5", "action": "title" }), &mut state).await;
     assert_success(&resp);
     assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["title"], "A");
+    assert!(state.ref_map.get("e1").is_none());
+    assert!(state.iframe_sessions.is_empty());
+    assert!(state.active_frame_id.is_none());
+
+    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+}
+
+/// Tabs can be opened with a user-assigned label and then addressed by that
+/// label anywhere a `t<N>` id is accepted (switch, close, and JSON `tabId`
+/// on `tab_switch` / `tab_close`). Labels are the agent-friendly way to
+/// write multi-tab workflows without memorizing ids.
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn e2e_tab_new_with_label_can_be_switched_and_closed() {
+    let mut state = DaemonState::new();
+
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "1", "action": "launch", "headless": true }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "2", "action": "navigate", "url": "data:text/html,<title>Home</title>" }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+
+    // Open a labeled tab and verify the response echoes the label and a
+    // `t<N>` style tabId.
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({
+            "id": "3",
+            "action": "tab_new",
+            "url": "data:text/html,<title>Docs</title>",
+            "label": "docs",
+        }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["tabId"], "t2");
+    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["label"], "docs");
+
+    // tab_list exposes the label alongside the id.
+    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "4", "action": "tab_list" }), &mut state).await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+    let tabs = get_data(&resp)["tabs"].as_array().unwrap();
+    let docs = tabs
+        .iter()
+        .find(|t| t["tabId"] == "t2")
+        .expect("docs tab should be present");
+    assert_eq!(docs["label"], "docs");
+
+    // tab_switch accepts the label.
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "5", "action": "tab_switch", "tabId": "t1" }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+    assert_eq!(state.browser.as_ref().unwrap().active_tab_id(), Some(1));
+
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "6", "action": "tab_switch", "tabId": "docs" }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+    assert_eq!(state.browser.as_ref().unwrap().active_tab_id(), Some(2));
+
+    // Once switched, the active tab is the labeled one and normal commands
+    // work against it.
+    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "7", "action": "title" }), &mut state).await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["title"], "Docs");
+
+    // tab_close accepts the label.
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "8", "action": "tab_close", "tabId": "docs" }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+    assert_eq!(get_data(&resp)["label"], "docs");
+
+    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+}
+
+/// Duplicate labels must be rejected so agents can treat a label as a unique
+/// handle. The first tab keeps the label; the second tab's creation errors.
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn e2e_tab_new_with_duplicate_label_errors() {
+    let mut state = DaemonState::new();
+
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "1", "action": "launch", "headless": true }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "2", "action": "tab_new", "url": "about:blank", "label": "docs" }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "3", "action": "tab_new", "url": "about:blank", "label": "docs" }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_eq!(
+        resp.get("success").and_then(|v| v.as_bool()),
+        Some(false),
+        "duplicate label should error: {}",
+        serde_json::to_string_pretty(&resp).unwrap_or_default()
+    );
+    let err = resp.get("error").and_then(|v| v.as_str()).unwrap_or("");
+    assert!(
+        err.contains("already used"),
+        "error should explain the collision: {}",
+        err
+    );
+
+    let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+}
+
+/// Positional integers passed as `tabId` on tab-switch / tab-close must be
+/// rejected by the daemon-layer parser, not silently coerced. The error
+/// should teach the user the correct form (`t<N>`).
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn e2e_tab_switch_rejects_bare_integer() {
+    let mut state = DaemonState::new();
+
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "1", "action": "launch", "headless": true }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_success(&resp);
+
+    let resp = execute_command(
+        &json!({ "id": "2", "action": "tab_switch", "tabId": "2" }),
+        &mut state,
+    )
+    .await;
+    assert_eq!(
+        resp.get("success").and_then(|v| v.as_bool()),
+        Some(false),
+        "bare integer tabId on tab_switch should error: {}",
+        serde_json::to_string_pretty(&resp).unwrap_or_default()
+    );
+    let err = resp.get("error").and_then(|v| v.as_str()).unwrap_or("");
+    assert!(
+        err.contains("t2") && err.contains("positional integers"),
+        "error should teach `t<N>` convention: {}",
+        err
+    );
 
     let resp = execute_command(&json!({ "id": "99", "action": "close" }), &mut state).await;
     assert_success(&resp);
diff --git a/cli/src/output.rs b/cli/src/output.rs
index bac0c9f..59e5f27 100644
--- a/cli/src/output.rs
+++ b/cli/src/output.rs
@@ -407,10 +407,8 @@ pub fn print_response_with_opts(resp: &Response, action: Option<&str>, opts: &Ou
         // Tabs
         if let Some(tabs) = data.get("tabs").and_then(|v| v.as_array()) {
             for tab in tabs {
-                let tab_id = tab
-                    .get("tabId")
-                    .and_then(|v| v.as_i64())
-                    .unwrap_or_default();
+                let tab_id = tab.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_str()).unwrap_or("?");
+                let tab_label = tab.get("label").and_then(|v| v.as_str());
                 let title = tab
                     .get("title")
                     .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
@@ -422,13 +420,17 @@ pub fn print_response_with_opts(resp: &Response, action: Option<&str>, opts: &Ou
                 } else {
                     " ".to_string()
                 };
-                println!("{} [{}] {} - {}", marker, tab_id, title, url);
+                if let Some(label) = tab_label {
+                    println!("{} [{}] {} {} - {}", marker, tab_id, label, title, url);
+                } else {
+                    println!("{} [{}] {} - {}", marker, tab_id, title, url);
+                }
             }
             return;
         }
         // Tab switch
         if action == Some("tab_switch") {
-            if let Some(tab_id) = data.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_i64()) {
+            if let Some(tab_id) = data.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) {
                 if let Some(url) = data.get("url").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) {
                     println!(
                         "{} Switched to tab [{}] ({})",
@@ -447,19 +449,31 @@ pub fn print_response_with_opts(resp: &Response, action: Option<&str>, opts: &Ou
             }
         }
         // New tab/window
-        if let Some(tab_id) = data.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_i64()) {
+        if let Some(tab_id) = data.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) {
             if let Some(total) = data.get("total").and_then(|v| v.as_i64()) {
-                let label = match action {
+                let label_noun = match action {
                     Some("window_new") => "Window opened",
                     _ => "Tab opened",
                 };
-                println!(
-                    "{} {} [{}] ({} total)",
-                    color::success_indicator(),
-                    label,
-                    tab_id,
-                    total
-                );
+                let tab_label = data.get("label").and_then(|v| v.as_str());
+                if let Some(lbl) = tab_label {
+                    println!(
+                        "{} {} [{}] {} ({} total)",
+                        color::success_indicator(),
+                        label_noun,
+                        tab_id,
+                        lbl,
+                        total
+                    );
+                } else {
+                    println!(
+                        "{} {} [{}] ({} total)",
+                        color::success_indicator(),
+                        label_noun,
+                        tab_id,
+                        total
+                    );
+                }
                 return;
             }
         }
@@ -604,7 +618,7 @@ pub fn print_response_with_opts(resp: &Response, action: Option<&str>, opts: &Ou
         if data.get("closed").is_some() {
             let label = match action {
                 Some("tab_close") => {
-                    if let Some(closed_id) = data.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_i64()) {
+                    if let Some(closed_id) = data.get("tabId").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) {
                         println!("{} Tab [{}] closed", color::success_indicator(), closed_id);
                         return;
                     }
@@ -1057,7 +1071,6 @@ Aliases: goto, navigate
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
   --headers <json>     Set HTTP headers (scoped to this origin)
   --headed             Show browser window
 
@@ -1081,7 +1094,6 @@ the browser's back button.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser back
@@ -1099,7 +1111,6 @@ the browser's forward button.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser forward
@@ -1117,7 +1128,6 @@ the browser's reload button.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser reload
@@ -1141,7 +1151,6 @@ Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser click "#submit-button"
@@ -1163,7 +1172,6 @@ or triggering double-click handlers.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser dblclick "#editable-text"
@@ -1182,7 +1190,6 @@ This replaces any existing content in the field.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser fill "#email" "user@example.com"
@@ -1202,7 +1209,6 @@ Unlike fill, this does not clear existing content first.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser type "#search" "hello"
@@ -1226,7 +1232,6 @@ triggering hover states or dropdown menus.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser hover "#dropdown-trigger"
@@ -1244,7 +1249,6 @@ Sets keyboard focus to the specified element.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser focus "#input-field"
@@ -1262,7 +1266,6 @@ Checks a checkbox element. If already checked, no action is taken.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser check "#terms-checkbox"
@@ -1280,7 +1283,6 @@ Unchecks a checkbox element. If already unchecked, no action is taken.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser uncheck "#newsletter-opt-in"
@@ -1298,7 +1300,6 @@ Selects one or more options in a <select> dropdown by value.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser select "#country" "US"
@@ -1317,7 +1318,6 @@ Drags an element from source to target location.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser drag "#draggable" "#drop-zone"
@@ -1335,7 +1335,6 @@ Uploads one or more files to a file input element.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser upload "#file-input" ./document.pdf
@@ -1357,7 +1356,6 @@ Arguments:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser download "#download-btn" ./file.pdf
@@ -1389,7 +1387,6 @@ Modifiers (combine with +):
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser press Enter
@@ -1411,7 +1408,6 @@ Useful for holding modifier keys.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser keydown Shift
@@ -1429,7 +1425,6 @@ Releases a key that was pressed with keydown.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser keyup Shift
@@ -1458,7 +1453,6 @@ directly — it already operates on the current focus.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser keyboard type "Hello, World!"
@@ -1493,7 +1487,6 @@ Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser scroll
@@ -1516,7 +1509,6 @@ Aliases: scrollinto
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser scrollintoview "#footer"
@@ -1554,7 +1546,6 @@ Wait for text to disappear:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser wait "#loading-spinner"
@@ -1596,7 +1587,6 @@ Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser screenshot
@@ -1620,7 +1610,6 @@ Saves the current page as a PDF file.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser pdf ./page.pdf
@@ -1649,7 +1638,6 @@ Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser snapshot
@@ -1676,7 +1664,6 @@ Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser eval "document.title"
@@ -1709,7 +1696,6 @@ Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser close
@@ -1761,7 +1747,6 @@ Subcommands:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser get text @e1
@@ -1794,7 +1779,6 @@ Subcommands:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser is visible "#modal"
@@ -1834,7 +1818,6 @@ Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser find role button click --name Submit
@@ -1865,7 +1848,6 @@ Subcommands:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser mouse move 100 200
@@ -1899,7 +1881,6 @@ Settings:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser set viewport 1920 1080
@@ -1940,7 +1921,6 @@ Subcommands:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser network route "**/api/*" --abort
@@ -1978,7 +1958,6 @@ Operations:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser storage local
@@ -2018,7 +1997,6 @@ for the current page URL.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   # Simple cookie for current page
@@ -2051,27 +2029,34 @@ agent-browser tab - Manage browser tabs
 
 Usage: agent-browser tab [operation] [args]
 
-Manage browser tabs in the current window.
+Manage browser tabs in the current window. Stable tab ids look like `t1`,
+`t2`, `t3`. An id is never reused within a session, so scripts can keep
+referring to the same tab across commands. Optional user-assigned labels
+(e.g. `docs`, `app`) are interchangeable with ids everywhere a tab ref is
+accepted.
 
 Operations:
-  list                 List all tabs with tab IDs (default)
-  new [url]            Open new tab
-  close [id]           Close tab by ID (current if no ID)
-  <id>                 Switch to tab by ID
+  list                       List open tabs with their ids and labels (default)
+  new [url]                  Open a new tab
+  new --label <name> [url]   Open a new tab with a label like `docs` or `app`
+  close [t<N>|label]         Close a tab (current if no ref given)
+  <t<N>|label>               Switch to a tab by id or label
 
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser tab
   agent-browser tab list
   agent-browser tab new
   agent-browser tab new https://example.com
-  agent-browser tab 2
+  agent-browser tab new --label docs https://docs.example.com
+  agent-browser tab t2
+  agent-browser tab docs
   agent-browser tab close
-  agent-browser tab close 1
+  agent-browser tab close t1
+  agent-browser tab close docs
 "##
         }
 
@@ -2090,7 +2075,6 @@ Operations:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser window new
@@ -2113,7 +2097,6 @@ Arguments:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser frame "#embed-iframe"
@@ -2201,7 +2184,6 @@ Operations:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser dialog accept
@@ -2227,7 +2209,6 @@ Operations:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser trace start
@@ -2259,7 +2240,6 @@ Start Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   # Basic profiling
@@ -2299,7 +2279,6 @@ Operations:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   # Record from current page (preserves login state)
@@ -2332,7 +2311,6 @@ Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser console
@@ -2353,7 +2331,6 @@ Options:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser errors
@@ -2373,7 +2350,6 @@ Visually highlights an element on the page for debugging.
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser highlight "#target-element"
@@ -2399,7 +2375,6 @@ Operations:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser clipboard read
@@ -2439,7 +2414,6 @@ State Encryption:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser state save ./auth-state.json
@@ -2472,7 +2446,6 @@ Environment:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser session
@@ -2570,7 +2543,6 @@ Supported URL formats:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   # Connect to local Chrome with remote debugging
@@ -2732,7 +2704,6 @@ URL Diff:
 Global Options:
   --json               Output as JSON
   --session <name>     Use specific session
-  --tab <id>           Target specific tab ID
 
 Examples:
   agent-browser diff snapshot
@@ -3027,7 +2998,6 @@ Authentication:
 
 Options:
   --session <name>           Isolated session (or AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION env)
-  --tab <id>                 Target specific tab ID for the command
   --executable-path <path>   Custom browser executable (or AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH)
   --extension <path>         Load browser extensions (repeatable)
   --args <args>              Browser launch args, comma or newline separated (or AGENT_BROWSER_ARGS)
diff --git a/docs/src/app/commands/page.mdx b/docs/src/app/commands/page.mdx
index a6d0955..5097279 100644
--- a/docs/src/app/commands/page.mdx
+++ b/docs/src/app/commands/page.mdx
@@ -188,27 +188,48 @@ agent-browser network har stop [output.har]    # Stop and save HAR (temp path if
 ## Tabs & frames
 
 ```bash
-agent-browser tab                     # List tabs (each row includes a stable tabId)
-agent-browser tab new [url]           # New tab
-agent-browser tab <id>                # Switch to tab by tabId
-agent-browser tab close [id]          # Close tab by tabId (defaults to active)
-agent-browser window new              # Open new browser window
-agent-browser frame <sel>             # Switch to iframe by CSS selector
-agent-browser frame @e3               # Switch to iframe by element ref
-agent-browser frame main              # Back to main frame
+agent-browser tab                              # List tabs (each row shows tabId and label)
+agent-browser tab new [url]                    # New tab
+agent-browser tab new --label docs [url]       # New tab with a user-assigned label
+agent-browser tab <t<N>|label>                 # Switch to a tab by id or label
+agent-browser tab close [t<N>|label]           # Close a tab (defaults to active)
+agent-browser window new                       # Open new browser window
+agent-browser frame <sel>                      # Switch to iframe by CSS selector
+agent-browser frame @e3                        # Switch to iframe by element ref
+agent-browser frame main                       # Back to main frame
 ```
 
-### Stable tab IDs and `--tab`
+### Stable tab ids and labels
 
-Tab IDs are assigned on creation and never reused within a session, so a given
-`tabId` keeps pointing at the same tab even when other tabs are opened or
-closed. The global `--tab <id>` flag runs a single command against a specific
-tab without changing the active tab:
+Tab ids are stable strings of the form `t1`, `t2`, `t3`. They're never reused
+within a session, so `t2` keeps pointing at the same tab even as other tabs
+are opened or closed. The `t` prefix mirrors the `@e1` element-ref convention
+and is not interchangeable with positional integers — `agent-browser tab 2`
+errors with a teaching message; use `t2`.
+
+You can also assign a memorable label (`docs`, `app`, `admin`) at tab-creation
+time and use it anywhere an id is accepted:
 
 ```bash
-agent-browser tab new https://docs.example.com   # opens and activates tab 2
-agent-browser --tab 1 snapshot                   # peek at tab 1; tab 2 stays active
-agent-browser click "#submit"                    # runs on tab 2 as expected
+agent-browser tab new --label docs https://docs.example.com
+agent-browser tab docs          # switch to the docs tab
+agent-browser snapshot          # populate refs for docs
+agent-browser click @e3         # click uses docs's refs
+agent-browser tab close docs    # close by label
+```
+
+Labels are never auto-generated and never rewritten on navigation — an agent
+that names a tab `docs` keeps that name until the tab is closed. Labels are
+unique within a session; creating a second tab with an existing label
+errors.
+
+Refs (`@e1`, etc.) are scoped to the tab that was active when the snapshot
+ran, so switch tabs first, then snapshot and interact:
+
+```bash
+agent-browser tab docs          # switch first
+agent-browser snapshot          # refs for docs
+agent-browser click @e3         # uses docs's refs
 ```
 
 ### Iframe support
diff --git a/docs/src/app/configuration/page.mdx b/docs/src/app/configuration/page.mdx
index 3b14d23..dd3bc94 100644
--- a/docs/src/app/configuration/page.mdx
+++ b/docs/src/app/configuration/page.mdx
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ Every CLI flag can be set in the config file using its camelCase equivalent:
     <tr><td><code>debug</code></td><td><code>--debug</code></td><td>boolean</td></tr>
     <tr><td><code>session</code></td><td><code>--session</code></td><td>string</td></tr>
     <tr><td><code>sessionName</code></td><td><code>--session-name</code></td><td>string</td></tr>
-    <tr><td><code>tab</code></td><td><code>--tab</code></td><td>number</td></tr>
     <tr><td><code>executablePath</code></td><td><code>--executable-path</code></td><td>string</td></tr>
     <tr><td><code>extensions</code></td><td><code>--extension</code></td><td>string[]</td></tr>
     <tr><td><code>profile</code></td><td><code>--profile</code></td><td>string</td></tr>
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/src/components/session-tree.tsx b/packages/dashboard/src/components/session-tree.tsx
index 44af64e..f3fb573 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/src/components/session-tree.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/src/components/session-tree.tsx
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ function TabNode({ tab, isViewed, isSessionActive, onClose, onSwitch, onSelectSe
         >
           <TabFavicon url={tab.url} />
           <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">
-            {tab.title || tab.url || `Tab ${tab.index}`}
+            {tab.title || tab.url || `Tab ${tab.label ?? tab.tabId}`}
           </span>
           {tab.active && (
             <span className="shrink-0 rounded border border-border px-1 py-px text-[9px] leading-none text-muted-foreground">
@@ -199,9 +199,9 @@ function SessionNode({
   expanded: boolean;
   onSelect: () => void;
   onToggle: () => void;
-  onCloseTab: (tabIndex: number) => void;
+  onCloseTab: (tabRef: string) => void;
   onAddTab: () => void;
-  onSwitchTab: (tabIndex: number) => void;
+  onSwitchTab: (tabRef: string) => void;
   onClose: () => void;
   onKill: () => void;
 }) {
@@ -319,9 +319,20 @@ function SessionNode({
       </Dialog>
       <CollapsibleContent>
         <div className="overflow-hidden pb-1">
-          {tabs.map((tab) => (
-            <TabNode key={tab.index} tab={tab} isViewed={isActive && tab.active} isSessionActive={isActive} onClose={() => onCloseTab(tab.index)} onSwitch={() => onSwitchTab(tab.index)} onSelectSession={onSelect} />
-          ))}
+          {tabs.map((tab) => {
+            const tabRef = tab.label ?? tab.tabId;
+            return (
+              <TabNode
+                key={tab.tabId}
+                tab={tab}
+                isViewed={isActive && tab.active}
+                isSessionActive={isActive}
+                onClose={() => onCloseTab(tabRef)}
+                onSwitch={() => onSwitchTab(tabRef)}
+                onSelectSession={onSelect}
+              />
+            );
+          })}
           <button
             onClick={onAddTab}
             className="flex w-full items-center gap-2 py-1 pr-1 pl-7 text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
@@ -447,9 +458,9 @@ export function SessionTree() {
                 expanded={isExpanded(s.port)}
                 onSelect={() => setActivePort(s.port)}
                 onToggle={() => toggleExpanded(s.port)}
-                onCloseTab={(tabIndex) => dispatchCloseTab({ port: s.port, tabIndex })}
+                onCloseTab={(tabRef) => dispatchCloseTab({ port: s.port, tabRef })}
                 onAddTab={() => dispatchAddTab(s.port)}
-                onSwitchTab={(tabIndex) => dispatchSwitchTab({ port: s.port, tabIndex })}
+                onSwitchTab={(tabRef) => dispatchSwitchTab({ port: s.port, tabRef })}
                 onClose={() => dispatchCloseSession(s.port)}
                 onKill={() => dispatchKillSession(s.port)}
               />
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/src/store/sessions.ts b/packages/dashboard/src/store/sessions.ts
index 7e7f5b7..9cfc688 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/src/store/sessions.ts
+++ b/packages/dashboard/src/store/sessions.ts
@@ -160,10 +160,10 @@ export const closeAllSessionsAtom = atom(null, (get, set) => {
 
 export const closeTabAtom = atom(
   null,
-  (get, _set, { port, tabIndex }: { port: number; tabIndex: number }) => {
+  (get, _set, { port, tabRef }: { port: number; tabRef: string }) => {
     const sessions = get(sessionsAtom);
     const s = sessions.find((x) => x.port === port)?.session;
-    if (s) execCommand(sessionArgs(s, "tab", "close", String(tabIndex)));
+    if (s) execCommand(sessionArgs(s, "tab", "close", tabRef));
   },
 );
 
@@ -175,10 +175,10 @@ export const addTabAtom = atom(null, (get, _set, port: number) => {
 
 export const switchTabAtom = atom(
   null,
-  (get, _set, { port, tabIndex }: { port: number; tabIndex: number }) => {
+  (get, _set, { port, tabRef }: { port: number; tabRef: string }) => {
     const sessions = get(sessionsAtom);
     const s = sessions.find((x) => x.port === port)?.session;
-    if (s) execCommand(sessionArgs(s, "tab", String(tabIndex)));
+    if (s) execCommand(sessionArgs(s, "tab", tabRef));
   },
 );
 
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/src/types.ts b/packages/dashboard/src/types.ts
index ebdd4b0..8f272c7 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/dashboard/src/types.ts
@@ -67,7 +67,10 @@ export interface ErrorMessage {
 }
 
 export interface TabInfo {
-  index: number;
+  /** Stable tab id like `t1`, `t2`. Never reused within a session. */
+  tabId: string;
+  /** Optional user-assigned label (e.g. `docs`). Interchangeable with `tabId`. */
+  label?: string | null;
   title: string;
   url: string;
   type: string;
diff --git a/skills/agent-browser/references/commands.md b/skills/agent-browser/references/commands.md
index c24da76..72eac78 100644
--- a/skills/agent-browser/references/commands.md
+++ b/skills/agent-browser/references/commands.md
@@ -166,24 +166,41 @@ agent-browser network requests --filter api    # Filter requests
 ## Tabs and Windows
 
 ```bash
-agent-browser tab                 # List tabs (each row includes a stable tabId)
-agent-browser tab new [url]       # New tab
-agent-browser tab 2               # Switch to tab by tabId
-agent-browser tab close           # Close current tab
-agent-browser tab close 2         # Close tab by tabId
-agent-browser window new          # New window
+agent-browser tab                              # List tabs with tabId and label
+agent-browser tab new [url]                    # New tab
+agent-browser tab new --label docs [url]       # New tab with a memorable label
+agent-browser tab t2                           # Switch to tab by id
+agent-browser tab docs                         # Switch to tab by label
+agent-browser tab close                        # Close current tab
+agent-browser tab close t2                     # Close tab by id
+agent-browser tab close docs                   # Close tab by label
+agent-browser window new                       # New window
 ```
 
-Tab IDs are stable and never reused within a session, so the same `tabId` keeps
-referring to the same tab even when other tabs are opened or closed. For a
-non-intrusive peek at another tab, use the global `--tab <id>` flag; the
-active tab is restored after the command:
+Tab ids are stable strings of the form `t1`, `t2`, `t3`. They're never reused
+within a session, so the same id keeps referring to the same tab across
+commands. Positional integers are **not** accepted — `tab 2` errors with a
+teaching message; use `t2`.
+
+User-assigned labels (`docs`, `app`, `admin`) are interchangeable with ids
+everywhere a tab ref is accepted. Labels are the agent-friendly way to write
+multi-tab workflows:
 
 ```bash
-agent-browser --tab 1 snapshot    # snapshot tab 1 without switching
-agent-browser --tab 3 click @e1   # click @e1 on tab 3 and return
+agent-browser tab new --label docs https://docs.example.com
+agent-browser tab new --label app  https://app.example.com
+agent-browser tab docs                   # switch to docs
+agent-browser snapshot                   # populate refs for docs
+agent-browser click @e1                  # ref click on docs
+agent-browser tab app                    # switch to app
+agent-browser tab close docs             # close by label
 ```
 
+Labels are never auto-generated, never rewritten on navigation, and must be
+unique within a session. To interact with another tab, switch to it first:
+the daemon maintains a single active tab, so refs (`@eN`) belong to the tab
+that was active when the snapshot ran.
+
 ## Frames
 
 ```bash