Table less website design?

james169 · 03-01-2009, 03:19 AM

Hi Everyone,

Would it be better to make website table less? Has anyone ever developed website completely table less?

And, what's the purpose of making a site table less?

Hope, I will have some good inputs from you guys. Thanks...

FathomJH · 03-01-2009, 08:03 AM

The use of tables was meant for "tabular data" (i.e. - a spreadsheet type format). Over the years, many web developers began using tables when in fact the use of tables was not meant for creating a whole website. However, this does not make it wrong, it works right?

On the flip-side, you have CSS (cascading style sheets - "table-less"). CSS actually gives you more control over positioning on the web page. You can do many things with CSS and you can also incorporate tables into the code if you choose to do so. I believe, and many will attest, one should use CSS to develop their site: it's cleaner, neater and easier to maintain.

Hope this helps!

shockie · 03-01-2009, 01:15 PM

the question shouldn't be "why make a site tableless," but rather "why make a site with tables?"

always a good read: http://www.hotdesign.com/seybold/

nex0r · 03-05-2009, 02:05 PM

tableless designs are fully customizable and easy way to integrate anything else before you have launched the website... <div> tags are the best thing...

beamstyle.com · 03-08-2009, 03:32 AM

Also, for design using tables, there are always some cross-platform problems using different browsers. Not to also mention the spacer pictures.

beamstyle.com · 03-08-2009, 03:41 AM

And the big problem with the table is that the spacing is always a little bit off depending on the browser. So it is much better to use CSS.

-------------------
From Beamstyle Web Design Hong Kong

The Rover · 03-17-2009, 11:33 AM

Why design a tableless design?

1.) It's easier for search engines to index your site.
2.) It's easier for your users to view your site on multiple browsers.
3.) It's easier to modify and edit your design elements.
4.) It's geeky and just plan cool.

rady · 03-18-2009, 02:36 AM

First and most important thing is that search engines index better/faster tableless websites. Because search engines spiders(or crawlers) can index only an predefined amount of text (not the completely entire page). So from here it came the need of making the pages smaller, lighter, for better search engine indexing. And what was the part of the code that you could separate from the code (yep, the css part) and we got to the point of using separate style sheets, and not embedded ones.

Honestly i think that tables are disregarded a little. Because for me we can still use them with the same efficiency as divs, but focusing us on what content deliver to search engines.

Steve · 03-18-2009, 06:52 AM

Another benefit is accessibility. Since content is separated from design, screen readers (programs visually impaired people use to read websites) have an easier time getting through the page.

andr69 · 03-18-2009, 07:10 AM

I think, the table webdesign is a progressive form of webdesign. You shouldn't design without tables.

shockie · 03-18-2009, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by andr69

I think, the table webdesign is a progressive form of webdesign. You shouldn't design without tables.

i think you have it backwards. you should design without using tables, and css is the "new" thing. if you want your design to have style, then use a stylesheet...

Steve · 03-18-2009, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by shockie

i think you have it backwards. you should design without using tables, and css is the "new" thing. if you want your design to have style, then use a stylesheet...

And if you want a different style, switch out the stylesheets. Ah, the beauty of CSS with semantic HTML.

03-01-2009, 03:19 AM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
james169 New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3	Table less website design? Hi Everyone, Would it be better to make website table less? Has anyone ever developed website completely table less? And, what's the purpose of making a site table less? Hope, I will have some good inputs from you guys. Thanks... __________________ texas holdem chips Mortgage Advisor

03-01-2009, 01:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
shockie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,702	the question shouldn't be "why make a site tableless," but rather "why make a site with tables?" always a good read: http://www.hotdesign.com/seybold/ __________________ - shockie

03-18-2009, 02:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
rady New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 19	First and most important thing is that search engines index better/faster tableless websites. Because search engines spiders(or crawlers) can index only an predefined amount of text (not the completely entire page). So from here it came the need of making the pages smaller, lighter, for better search engine indexing. And what was the part of the code that you could separate from the code (yep, the css part) and we got to the point of using separate style sheets, and not embedded ones. Honestly i think that tables are disregarded a little. Because for me we can still use them with the same efficiency as divs, but focusing us on what content deliver to search engines. __________________ Web design resources Funny movies

03-18-2009, 06:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
Steve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,187	Another benefit is accessibility. Since content is separated from design, screen readers (programs visually impaired people use to read websites) have an easier time getting through the page. __________________ Steve NamePros Staff Emeritus

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03-01-2009, 08:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
FathomJH NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: U.S. Posts: 413	The use of tables was meant for "tabular data" (i.e. - a spreadsheet type format). Over the years, many web developers began using tables when in fact the use of tables was not meant for creating a whole website. However, this does not make it wrong, it works right? On the flip-side, you have CSS (cascading style sheets - "table-less"). CSS actually gives you more control over positioning on the web page. You can do many things with CSS and you can also incorporate tables into the code if you choose to do so. I believe, and many will attest, one should use CSS to develop their site: it's cleaner, neater and easier to maintain. Hope this helps!

03-05-2009, 02:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
nex0r First Time Poster! Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1	tableless designs are fully customizable and easy way to integrate anything else before you have launched the website... <div> tags are the best thing...

03-08-2009, 03:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
beamstyle.com New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4	Also, for design using tables, there are always some cross-platform problems using different browsers. Not to also mention the spacer pictures.

03-08-2009, 03:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
beamstyle.com New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4	And the big problem with the table is that the spacing is always a little bit off depending on the browser. So it is much better to use CSS. ------------------- From Beamstyle Web Design Hong Kong

03-17-2009, 11:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
The Rover NamePros Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 172	Why design a tableless design? 1.) It's easier for search engines to index your site. 2.) It's easier for your users to view your site on multiple browsers. 3.) It's easier to modify and edit your design elements. 4.) It's geeky and just plan cool.

03-18-2009, 07:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
andr69 Account Suspended Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia Posts: 622	I think, the table webdesign is a progressive form of webdesign. You shouldn't design without tables.

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