What Are HTML Tables?
HTML tables are used to organize and display data in a tabular format, using rows and columns. HTML tables are useful for displaying structured data, but for complex layouts and responsive design, modern web development often uses CSS grid or flexbox alongside or instead of HTML tables.
Tabular data refers to information that is organized in a table format, which means it is arranged in rows and columns. Each row represents a single record or entry, and each column represents a specific attribute or variable of the data. This structure allows for efficient storage, retrieval, and manipulation of data.
When Should HTML Tables Be Used?
HTML tables are exclusively for tabular data you want to implement into your site. This was the original intention behind their design.
When deciding whether or not to use a table, think to yourself: "Would this information be better communicated in a word document or an excel spreadsheet?". If you decide on the latter, you should tabulate the data to implement it.
When Should You Not Use HTML Tables
HTML tables should only be used for displaying tabular data. Early web developers sometimes used the <table> element for page layout, but this method is outdated and less effective. For example, they used tables to organize a page's header, body, and footer or to arrange text in columns. Nowadays, these tasks can be done without tables.
Using tables for layout makes it harder to update or change the site later and makes the HTML code difficult to read and debug. It also reduces accessibility for visually impaired users because screen readers might read the page content in the wrong order, causing confusion. Additionally, tables require extra effort to fit within their parent elements, making them more cumbersome to work with.
Different websites offer varying tools. If you need assistance in determining the best way to display specific content, please feel free to contact our support team.