diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/builds.html b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/builds.html
index 596b50ff..45ad8276 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/builds.html
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/builds.html
@@ -16,25 +16,12 @@
        meta inputs, and build log history on one page. Carved out of the
        old /core.html (rebuild queue + meta inputs) and /logs.html (BUILD
        tab) so the full build lifecycle is in one place. Same minimal
-       chrome as /core.html — a `← home` back-link + a createTabStrip
+       chrome as /core.html — a `← home` back-link + a <hive-tab-strip>
        sub-tab nav. Default sub-tab is the rebuild queue. -->
   <header class="page-header">
     <a class="page-back" href="/">← home</a>
-    <nav class="hive-tabbar builds-tabbar" id="builds-tabbar" role="tablist">
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="builds-tab-rebuild" href="#rebuild" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="builds-pane-rebuild" data-tab="rebuild">
-        <span class="builds-tab-label">R3BU1LD QU3U3</span>
-        <span class="tab-count" id="builds-tab-count-rebuild" hidden></span>
-      </a>
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="builds-tab-meta" href="#meta" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="builds-pane-meta" data-tab="meta">
-        <span class="builds-tab-label">M3T4 1NPUTS</span>
-      </a>
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="builds-tab-buildlogs" href="#buildlogs" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="builds-pane-buildlogs" data-tab="buildlogs">
-        <span class="builds-tab-label">BUILD L0GS</span>
-      </a>
-    </nav>
+    <hive-tab-strip class="hive-tabbar builds-tabbar" id="builds-tabbar" prefix="builds"
+                    role="tablist"></hive-tab-strip>
   </header>
 
   <main class="builds-main">
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/builds.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/builds.js
index b3c5fc0f..3d719914 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/builds.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/builds.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // BU1LDS page entry (/builds.html). The build lifecycle hub — rebuild
 // queue, live build log, meta inputs, and build log history on one page.
-// Three sub-tabs via the shared createTabStrip (default = Rebuild Queue):
+// Three sub-tabs via <hive-tab-strip> (default = Rebuild Queue):
 //   - R3BU1LD QU3U3: pending + running rebuilds + live build log inline
 //   - M3T4 1NPUTS:   nix flake input selector + meta-update trigger
 //   - BUILD L0GS:    all-agents build log history (lazy-loaded on tab show)
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import { $, fmtAgeSecs, openStream, openBuildLogStream, initServerWarnings } fro
 import { el } from '@hive/shared/dom.js';
 import { bindAsyncForms } from '@hive/shared/forms.js';
 import { fmtAgo, fmtElapsed, fmtDuration, truncate } from './util.js';
-import { createTabStrip } from '@hive/shared/tabs.js';
+import '@hive/shared/hive-tab-strip.js';
 
 // ─── derived state ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 let metaInputsState = [];
@@ -777,7 +777,12 @@ async function init() {
   initServerWarnings();
   bindAsyncForms(() => refreshState());
 
-  buildTabs = createTabStrip(document.getElementById('builds-tabbar'), {
+  buildTabs = document.getElementById('builds-tabbar').configure({
+    tabs: [
+      { id: 'rebuild', label: 'R3BU1LD QU3U3', badgeId: 'builds-tab-count-rebuild' },
+      { id: 'meta', label: 'M3T4 1NPUTS' },
+      { id: 'buildlogs', label: 'BUILD L0GS' },
+    ],
     defaultId: 'rebuild',
     onShow: (id) => {
       if (id === 'buildlogs' && !buildLogsLoaded) {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.html b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.html
index f35b1fc9..b1ee18c8 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.html
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.html
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
        /core.html) carved out of the dashboard's old SYST3M tab so the
        dashboard tab strip stays lean. Same minimal chrome as
        /logs.html — a `← home` back-link to the H0M3 hub + a
-       createTabStrip sub-tab nav. Three sub-tabs: kept state (tombstones),
+       <hive-tab-strip> sub-tab nav. Three sub-tabs: kept state (tombstones),
        container load, and infra containers (start/stop/restart the four
        hive infra containers). Rebuild queue + meta inputs have moved to
        /builds.html (the build lifecycle hub). Default tab: K3PT ST4T3.
@@ -24,20 +24,8 @@
        infra-containers-section) match what core.js's renderers target. -->
   <header class="page-header">
     <a class="page-back" href="/">← home</a>
-    <nav class="hive-tabbar core-tabbar" id="core-tabbar" role="tablist">
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="core-tab-kept" href="#kept" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="core-pane-kept" data-tab="kept">
-        <span class="core-tab-label">K3PT ST4T3</span>
-      </a>
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="core-tab-load" href="#load" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="core-pane-load" data-tab="load">
-        <span class="core-tab-label">C0NT41N3R L04D</span>
-      </a>
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="core-tab-infra" href="#infra" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="core-pane-infra" data-tab="infra">
-        <span class="core-tab-label">1NFR4</span>
-      </a>
-    </nav>
+    <hive-tab-strip class="hive-tabbar core-tabbar" id="core-tabbar" prefix="core"
+                    role="tablist"></hive-tab-strip>
   </header>
 
   <main class="core-main">
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.js
index ecc14621..7a4c467d 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.js
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 // C0R3 page entry (/core.html). The host/coordinator surface carved out
 // of the dashboard's old SYST3M tab into its own standalone page so the
-// dashboard tab strip stays lean. Two sub-tabs via the shared
-// createTabStrip (default = K3PT ST4T3): kept state (tombstones) and
-// container load.
+// dashboard tab strip stays lean. Two sub-tabs via <hive-tab-strip>
+// (default = K3PT ST4T3): kept state (tombstones) and container load.
 //
 // Rebuild queue + meta inputs have moved to /builds.html (the build
 // lifecycle hub). This page is its own esbuild bundle with its own
@@ -13,7 +12,7 @@
 import { $, form, openStream, initServerWarnings } from './common.js';
 import { el } from '@hive/shared/dom.js';
 import { asyncBtn, bindAsyncForms } from '@hive/shared/forms.js';
-import { createTabStrip } from '@hive/shared/tabs.js';
+import '@hive/shared/hive-tab-strip.js';
 
 // ─── derived state (own copies; this bundle has its own runtime) ──────────
 let tombstonesState = [];
@@ -490,7 +489,12 @@ async function init() {
   // Hash-routed sub-tab strip; default K3PT ST4T3. Container-load
   // polling runs only while the LOAD sub-tab is open (cpu is a short
   // two-sample read each refresh on the server).
-  createTabStrip(document.getElementById('core-tabbar'), {
+  document.getElementById('core-tabbar').configure({
+    tabs: [
+      { id: 'kept', label: 'K3PT ST4T3' },
+      { id: 'load', label: 'C0NT41N3R L04D' },
+      { id: 'infra', label: '1NFR4' },
+    ],
     defaultId: 'kept',
     onShow: (id) => {
       if (id === 'load') startContainerLoadPolling();
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.html b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.html
index 167166f7..c30ac25a 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.html
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.html
@@ -17,20 +17,8 @@
        link points to the H0M3 hub (served at /). -->
   <header class="page-header">
     <a class="page-back" href="/">← home</a>
-    <nav class="hive-tabbar cred-tabbar" id="cred-tabbar" role="tablist">
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="cred-tab-matrix" href="#matrix" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="cred-pane-matrix" data-tab="matrix">
-        <span class="cred-tab-label">MATRIX</span>
-      </a>
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="cred-tab-github" href="#github" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="cred-pane-github" data-tab="github">
-        <span class="cred-tab-label">GITHUB</span>
-      </a>
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="cred-tab-forges" href="#forges" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="cred-pane-forges" data-tab="forges">
-        <span class="cred-tab-label">FORGES</span>
-      </a>
-    </nav>
+    <hive-tab-strip class="hive-tabbar cred-tabbar" id="cred-tabbar" prefix="cred"
+                    role="tablist"></hive-tab-strip>
   </header>
 
   <main class="cred-main">
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.js
index fda15724..5d2420c3 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 import { $, esc, fmtAgeSecs, renderServerWarnings } from './common.js';
 import { el } from '@hive/shared/dom.js';
-import { createTabStrip } from '@hive/shared/tabs.js';
+import '@hive/shared/hive-tab-strip.js';
 import { themedConfirm, themedToast } from '@hive/shared/modal.js';
 
 let agents = [];
@@ -507,7 +507,12 @@ async function init() {
   $('gh-form').addEventListener('submit', submitGithub);
   $('ef-form').addEventListener('submit', submitForgeAccount);
 
-  createTabStrip(document.getElementById('cred-tabbar'), {
+  document.getElementById('cred-tabbar').configure({
+    tabs: [
+      { id: 'matrix', label: 'MATRIX' },
+      { id: 'github', label: 'GITHUB' },
+      { id: 'forges', label: 'FORGES' },
+    ],
     defaultId: 'matrix',
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.html b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.html
index 037e1b01..ba1b08f7 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.html
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.html
@@ -19,24 +19,8 @@
        moved to /builds.html (the build lifecycle hub). -->
   <header class="page-header">
     <a class="page-back" href="/">← home</a>
-    <nav class="hive-tabbar logs-tabbar" id="logs-tabbar" role="tablist">
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="logs-tab-agent" href="#agent" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="logs-pane-agent" data-tab="agent">
-        <span class="logs-tab-label">AGENT</span>
-      </a>
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="logs-tab-infra" href="#infra" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="logs-pane-infra" data-tab="infra">
-        <span class="logs-tab-label">INFRA</span>
-      </a>
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="logs-tab-system" href="#system" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="logs-pane-system" data-tab="system">
-        <span class="logs-tab-label">SYSTEM</span>
-      </a>
-      <a class="hive-tab" id="logs-tab-audit" href="#audit" role="tab"
-         aria-controls="logs-pane-audit" data-tab="audit">
-        <span class="logs-tab-label">AUDIT</span>
-      </a>
-    </nav>
+    <hive-tab-strip class="hive-tabbar logs-tabbar" id="logs-tabbar" prefix="logs"
+                    role="tablist"></hive-tab-strip>
   </header>
 
   <main class="logs-main">
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.js
index 959f5c18..3d377b30 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import {
 } from './common.js';
 import { el } from '@hive/shared/dom.js';
 import { epochSec } from './util.js';
-import { createTabStrip } from '@hive/shared/tabs.js';
+import '@hive/shared/hive-tab-strip.js';
 
 (() => {
   initServerWarnings();
@@ -368,7 +368,13 @@ import { createTabStrip } from '@hive/shared/tabs.js';
   // needs are defined. Its initial show() paints the active pane and, if
   // the deep-linked tab is SYSTEM/AUDIT, kicks off the lazy fetch via onShow.
   // Default: AGENT (build logs moved to /builds.html).
-  logTabs = createTabStrip(document.getElementById('logs-tabbar'), {
+  logTabs = document.getElementById('logs-tabbar').configure({
+    tabs: [
+      { id: 'agent', label: 'AGENT' },
+      { id: 'infra', label: 'INFRA' },
+      { id: 'system', label: 'SYSTEM' },
+      { id: 'audit', label: 'AUDIT' },
+    ],
     defaultId: 'agent',
     onShow: (id) => {
       if (id === 'system') fetchSystem();
diff --git a/frontend/packages/shared/package.json b/frontend/packages/shared/package.json
index 8f4cb466..b0dde490 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/shared/package.json
+++ b/frontend/packages/shared/package.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     "./terminal.js": "./src/terminal/terminal.js",
     "./tabs.js": "./src/tabs/tabs.js",
     "./tabs.css": "./src/tabs/tabs.css",
+    "./hive-tab-strip.js": "./src/tabs/hive-tab-strip.js",
     "./colors.css": "./src/colors.css",
     "./theme.css": "./src/theme.css",
     "./base.css": "./src/base.css",
diff --git a/frontend/packages/shared/src/tabs/hive-tab-strip.js b/frontend/packages/shared/src/tabs/hive-tab-strip.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2692a5cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/packages/shared/src/tabs/hive-tab-strip.js
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+// hive-tab-strip.js — <hive-tab-strip>, the markup-owning tab-strip custom
+// element behind the logs/credentials/core/builds sub-page tabbars. Owns
+// rendering the <a class="hive-tab"> markup from a declarative `tabs` list
+// instead of every page hand-writing the same <nav><a>...</a></nav>
+// boilerplate, then wires the existing createTabStrip() behaviour
+// (@hive/shared/tabs.js) over what it just rendered — no behaviour
+// duplication, this is markup only.
+//
+// Light-DOM (no shadow root): the existing .hive-tabbar/.hive-tab/
+// .tab-count CSS (tabs.css + dashboard.css) already targets plain classes
+// on the tabbar/tab elements directly, and tab *panes* stay page-owned
+// content this element never touches — no slotting/scoping need the way
+// <hive-menu>/<hive-side-panel> have.
+//
+// Host keeps its own id/class/role (same as the <nav> it replaces, so
+// existing CSS selectors + #id lookups keep matching); pass a `prefix`
+// attribute (e.g. `prefix="logs"`). `configure({ tabs, defaultId, onShow })`
+// then renders one <a> per tab —
+//   <a class="hive-tab" id="${prefix}-tab-${id}" href="#${id}" role="tab"
+//      aria-controls="${prefix}-pane-${id}" data-tab="${id}">${label}</a>
+// — same id/aria-controls scheme the hand-written markup used, so each
+// page's panes (aria-labelledby="${prefix}-tab-${id}") don't need to
+// change. A `badgeId` tab also gets a nested `<span class="tab-count"
+// id="${badgeId}" hidden>` (matches builds.html's rebuild-queue count
+// pill), then wires up createTabStrip() and returns exactly what it
+// returns ({ show, active }) — every existing `.active()`/`.show(id)`
+// call site keeps working unchanged. Call configure() exactly once per
+// element (throws if called twice), mirroring the old call sites.
+
+import { el } from '../dom.js';
+import { createTabStrip } from './tabs.js';
+
+class HiveTabStrip extends HTMLElement {
+  configure({ tabs, defaultId, onShow }) {
+    if (this._api) {
+      throw new Error('hive-tab-strip: configure() called twice on the same element');
+    }
+    const prefix = this.getAttribute('prefix');
+    if (!prefix) {
+      throw new Error('hive-tab-strip: missing required `prefix` attribute');
+    }
+    for (const tab of tabs) {
+      const a = el('a', {
+        class: 'hive-tab',
+        id: `${prefix}-tab-${tab.id}`,
+        href: `#${tab.id}`,
+        role: 'tab',
+        'aria-controls': `${prefix}-pane-${tab.id}`,
+        'data-tab': tab.id,
+      }, tab.label);
+      if (tab.badgeId) {
+        a.append(el('span', { class: 'tab-count', id: tab.badgeId, hidden: '' }));
+      }
+      this.append(a);
+    }
+    this._api = createTabStrip(this, { defaultId, onShow });
+    return this._api;
+  }
+}
+customElements.define('hive-tab-strip', HiveTabStrip);