Web Design in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Data Tables

Data tables, the arrangement of information in rows and columns, are the intended use of HTML table elements. In visual browsers, the arrangement of data in rows and columns gives users an instant understanding of the relationships between data cells and their respective header labels. These relationships may be lost for users without the benefit of visual presentation unless care is taken to author the data table with accessibility in mind. These techniques are discussed in the upcoming "Accessible Tables" section.

Tables may be used to present calendars, schedules, statistics, or other types of information as shown in Figure 13-1. Note that “data” doesn’t necessarily mean numbers. A table cell may contain any sort of information, including numbers, text elements, even images or multimedia objects.

Figure 13-1. Examples of data tables