Tables can be a useful tool for presenting related content. They’re composed of boxes called cells organized in rows and columns. Table heading cells tell you what kind of information is in the row or column they introduce. Table data cells provide the specific information.
When to Use a Table
Consider using a table when you when you have groups of words, phrases or other information that have consistent relationships. Let’s say you need to put the following information on a webpage:
The first meeting will be held in the conference room on Monday starting at 9 a.m., the next meeting will take place in the auditorium at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and at 11 a.m. on Friday, the final meeting will begin in the library.
You could use a bulleted list to split up the long sentence. But a table can present this information with fewer words in a way that’s even easier for your audience to scan.
| Day | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9 a.m. | Conference room |
| Wednesday | 10 a.m. | Auditorium |
| Friday | 11 a.m. | Library |
When Not to Use a Table
Don’t use tables for layout purposes. This can create problems for people using assistive technology.
Tables work best when kept simple. If you find yourself needing to use more than two levels of headings to organize your table, you should explore another solution. Sometimes, the answer is to split the information into multiple tables. But another strategy may be more effective.
Your options for organizing complicated information on NIU websites include:
- The timeline format (example: Orientation process).
- A checklist (example: New Hall move-out checklist).
- A set of tabs (example: Resources for undocumented students).
Accessible Tables
Like any other website feature, tables on NIU websites must be accessible to all users. There are some additional steps to take to ensure table accessibility. Read more about tables and accessibility.
