Practical Uses for HTML Tables in Web Design

June R.,  Miami Florida
123Triad: Web Design & SEO Company

Tables are one of the most versatile elements in web design. Although originally developed for grid content, they have proven valuable for layout, alignment, and many other features. Newer technologies such as CSS may have replaced some of their functions, but many designers still swear by tables as a primary design tool. Here are some ways that HTML tables can come in handy in everyday web design.

Aligning columns. When you have to write in columns, getting them to align perfectly can be a nightmare. That’s why tables are often used on text-heavy sites. By putting each column in a single cell, you get full control over alignment on a per-paragraph and per-column basis. Invisible tables make it look more streamlined, but keeping the divisions can also visually separate the columns.

Layout. Many sites still follow the three-part layout with a sidebar, banner, and main content area. Since frames got outdated, tables became the tool of choice for designating these parts. Each part is represented by a cell, which can contain text, graphics, or both. The only problem is that they can’t be interlinked as you do with frames—the page will have to reload every time a link is followed. But if you keep your site small, this shouldn’t be much of a setback.

Defining page areas. Modern design favors block sections instead of the usual menu structure. These blocks are best created with tables, as you can choose the dimensions and maintain a uniform look at the same time. If you want it a little quirky, you can also play around with cell sizes and make each block a different size. And because you can resize the table, it works with most layouts and templates.

Separating text and images. If you’ve ever had to align text and images on a page, you’ll know how complicated it can get. A quick solution is to put them in tables. This allows you to put graphics and associated text in predefined rows and columns. That way, your text is confined to the right area, and you can be sure they’re aligned every time.

123Triad webdesign offers affordable custom website design. Our full service website design company only hires certified web designers. Please contact us today on 1-800-720-0816 for your next web site design project.

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