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Web design tips: Best practices for designing tables

Tables are one of the most complex forms of coding for the general HTML user. That is because there are so many different way so many different ways to create and use tables that often times, users are unable to find a way which best suits the needs of their website. However, the problems with tables is much more serious than just some simple design annoyances. Tables are actually one of the worst elements to deal with because they aren't the most compatible elements to use in web design across the variety of different browsers and HTML programs. This means that you could design something in Frontpage for example that you feel looks incredible, but when you bring it to the web and look at it on Internet Explorer, it could look absolutely horrible, and then look even different on Firefox, or Opera. The reality is that there are so many different browsers which all have different interpretations of how the tables should be shown with the different variables, making it relatively difficult to use tables if you are worried about the different browser types.

However, if you are going to use tables, the best thing that you can do is map it out. Take a piece of paper and physically draw out what you are attempting to do. By doing this, you are able to get a better idea of the space that you are going to need, as well as the number of rows and columns you are going to need as well. This will also better illustrate what still needs to be done with the table.

While many people consider the table as just a means of display information, few would realize that the large majority of websites are actually created with tables. In fact tables truly help to align sites so that they are more effective and efficient for the user. This is because, with a table you are able to put things exactly where you want them on the page. This of course is all reliant on how well each browser interprets the information, but if you use standard table code, then you shouldn't have any issues with this.

If you are looking to align an image and are having issues, try using a table to align it for you. By taking away the cell padding and borders, you are even able to bump images next to each other. If you are looking to make your navigation with images, you can even use a table that has one image in each cell. This will help to align them perfectly the same, and set them up exactly as you want them. You can even add cell padding in order to get spacing between the images, which would have been much


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Web design tips: Best practices for designing tables

  • by WeaselWarDance

    This title is a little misleading and some of the other articles talk about designing sites using tables for layout. This

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  • 2 of 3

    by Kate Hudson

    Tables in web design are often misused and poorly coded. This article aims to explain when tables should and should not be

    read more

  • 3 of 3

    by Clacky McSnackins

    Tables are one of the most complex forms of coding for the general HTML user. That is because there are so many different

    read more

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