Standard music notations for stringed instruments include tablature and standard notation.
Tablature
Tablature (or tab for short) indicates which frets to press on which string. It can also display information about playing techniques, such as bending and palm muting. Yet, tablature can lack accurate information about rhythm and note length.
A standard tablature has lines representing the strings of the instrument. These are used to indicate the instrument fingering.
Standard notation
Tabs are quick to grasp and easy to read for musicians. However, standard notation is used to write music for most instruments. If you want to sing or play other instruments, write your own music or understand music in general, you should learn it as well.
Standard notation is written on five horizontal lines, called staff. The lines don't represent the strings of the instrument, so a musician has to learn, where on the fretboard the notes are located.