6 replies to this topic

[Toshiyan]

I'm not quite sure if this goes in another forum, I didn't see a forum though for web design or coding discussion so this is the only place I could think of.

What I'm wanting to know is, is there any real use in using tables for web development anymore? Currently I'm learning CSS which is my first step into creating tableless webpages, but I haven't really seen any new webpages that are using tables, just CSS. So will tables soon be none existant? or is there some point to still use them?

Comments Appreciated.

Edited by Toshiyan, 10 March 2007 - 12:29 AM.

[Ben]

CSS and tables are two completely different things. For one CSS is an entire code, as tables are only a segment of HTML. You may be getting CSS confused with div's. You can use CSS on tables, and div's, but more people are using div's now a days. I don't think tables will be gone any time soon though, since div's are limited visually, but tables are limited dynamically. Most websites use both.

[albinoAZN]

The most commonplace for a table to be seen is when making a form.
This is because a table can have rows and columns inside it, where as a div cannot; thus making it a lot easier to organize and align things in a certain manner. Tables are more oft then not used inside the actual content rather than the structure of the layout now-a-days.

[Bug]

But is there any problem with using tables? I wouldn't say so. I haven't really found a flaw in them yet... some people say they don't load as fast but then you're just getting picky. Heck, MySpace wouldn't even validate for one line of code, and probably loads really slow on dial-up, but that hasn't stopped it.

[MyFlash13]

Creative Insanity, on Mar 10 2007, 02:48 AM, said:

Tables are used mainly for tubular data and they will be around for a long time yet I would say.

Yes tables are still very usefull in organizing content.

[Jacorre]

I agree with tables being used for tabular data. I've also seen it used with forms, but there are ways to make forms tableless as well. I believe the reason why CSS is better for structuring/presentation of a site is because you can define everything in a single file. If you need to make an update or change, it's done to that one file and the rest of the site changes.