I have read about how tables were originally designed to display data in a grid like excel format and that really now data & forms should be done more with lists and CSS.

Then others say, what the hell does it matter as long as the data is displayed?

What does the group have to say to this?

Tables are meant for tabular data, like you say "similar" to a spreadsheet. If the content is tabular data then it's perectly normal to use a HTML table to display that content.

if your using it to display tabular data then definitely use a table, when people say dont use tables they are usually referring to using tables as a layout

you use tables for tabular data just like you would use a list for data that needs to be displayed in a list

I don't see anything that's called "similar" between table and list. It's difference completely. Belong to which position in your page, you must to choice table or list, it can not replace each other. That's my way.

table and div both is good

Using a table you can create cells and is easier to read them on the code. I also agree with kids, table cannot replace list and list cannot replace table.

List is better than table. It will make your markup clean.
All styles will go to css.

List is alot better than tables for cleaner and more SEO friendly websites. Always create your tables using CSS as well

Originally Posted by T-H-C

Always create your tables using CSS as well

Lol... really???

I always avoid using Tables. Tables cause unnecessary confusion in code. I think it is very hard to maintain the pages with tables. List management is easy and can be fine tune controlled by using CSS.

It really does not matter to me, and most of the people who goes to your website will not care either, as long as you give them what they want they could care less how you gave it to them.

They WILL care when your site loads slower because you used a mess of tables - they'll go somewhere else that loads faster!

UNDERSTAND THE USE OF TABLES!

tables are meant for tabular data and you'll have to consider the data you're displaying. If you are displaying structured data that's supposed to look like a table, use a table because when the user copies out the data into excel or word or whatever the structure will remain intact. If you use other methods in just building the aesthetics the function to reuse your data maybe more complicated.

That is why you should understand how you want your data to be viewed and used. Say you site provides statistics for users and I am having lots of problems extracting that data, I'd rather go elsewhere... that's my 2 cents

Originally Posted by SetupLink

table and div both are good

http://www.webmaster-talk.com/html-f...ml#post1072190

?

Lists are for one-dimensional data.

Tables are for two-dimensional data (and possibly 3-dimensional, if you use full-span headers to represent data groups).

Originally Posted by smoseley

Lists are for one-dimensional data.

Tables are for two-dimensional data (and possibly 3-dimensional, if you use full-span headers to represent data groups).

i don't understand, what is dimension in html?

IMO the biggest downside of the web standards movement is that a lot of web designers never use tables anymore, even when it makes sense to use them. And at the same time, DIVs and lists are being overused for things that they're not meant for.

If you care enough of the user experience, use table for only tabular data would be a good idea. Otherwise, stick to lists which can be used for simple tabular data as well. HTML tables can be shaped rather beautifully with the correct use of CSS.

It depends on what structure you will be needing. But what important is that you can give your users satisfaction.

It really depends on how much work you want to do, I think.

I still know some designers who use tables for the design of their websites. Websites that are popular and rank well in Google. They just prefer working that way, I'm guessing because they've learnt via Dreamweaver...

I only use tables obviously for tabular data and occasionally forms if it makes sense to put them in tables.

For everything else, it's CSS all the way for me. It gives you far more control over layout, involves much less coding work and is easier to maintain/change.