Question: Which way are arrows supposed to point on a tabbed web page? Towards the selection or towards the body of the selection? An awkward scenario seems to arise when a user selects another item and the arrow moves to point at nothing in particular when the arrow is pointing to the body. Is there a best practice? 

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WgSMw.jpg)

Answer: 
Adding to [Will's answer](https://ux.stackexchange.com/a/64731), if you're looking for a non directional highlight, here is a great example from Google's material Design

**Material design guidelines on using Tabs**

> 
> The tab corresponding to the visible content is **highlighted**.
> 
> 
> Tabs are grouped together and the group of tabs are in turn **connected
>  with their content**.
> 
> 
> Keeping tabs adjacent to their content helps maintain the relationship
>  between the two, as too great a separation can introduce ambiguity
> 
> 
> 

<http://www.google.com/design/spec/components/tabs.html#>

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fcz6c.png)
If you are going to use a skeuomorph you should avoid unnecessary and baroque decoration

Here's some originals from my current desktop (the wooden one) to help us understand what it is we are trying to represent to the user:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/FX5aI.png)
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/q37VA.png)
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/DP8cC.png)

Arrows don't add anything to this visual metaphor, they only serve to distract and confuse.

As an example of this deleterious effect, I cite the confusion that motivated your question.