Tables and CSS vs. Pure CSS

JYM · Mar 23, 2006

Which would you recommend? Tables with css for images, text, and to define the tables, or pure css for the entire layout?

I checked microsoft's source code and it's made with tables so I wonder why they would do that when CSS is becoming increasingly powerful and popular?

I mean microsoft is a leading company in terms of technology so why would they implement the use of tables, which is quite old and was never designed for the way it is used?

Comments and opinions?

rockeyfuse · Mar 28, 2006

Tables are easyier to do.

Palyriot · Mar 28, 2006

Not really, tables require more code, which means harder to do...

dojo · Mar 29, 2006

I use a combination of those two. As long as the page loads OK and it's functioning great, I really don't care about code and tables or pure CSS. Neither do my visitors.

TheLimey · Mar 29, 2006

I'm trying to move over to XHTML and CSS rather than using tables.

It's not always easy though, especially with graphic-rich sites.

Interesting that the large (and expensive) design company ceonex.com still relies heavliy on tables in a lot their designs.

Epic · Mar 29, 2006

TheLimey said:
I'm trying to move over to XHTML and CSS rather than using tables.

It's not always easy though, especially with graphic-rich sites.

Interesting that the large (and expensive) design company ceonex.com still relies heavliy on tables in a lot their designs.

Yeah I'm surprised more people haven't switched over. When you think about it, tables don't make much sense for a site, since tables were meant for displaying tabicular data, not sites.

prodenis · Mar 30, 2006

Pure CSS

I use CSS in all my sites. I think CSS is better to search robots understand the page and index it.

splondike · Jul 26, 2006

I learnt to write HTML type things purely from a CSS/div type beginning, and I find it very easy to use. I've never actually needed to use it myself, but how do the display:table and display:table-cell CSS properties stack up against traditional <table> design?

CreedFeed · Jul 26, 2006

Tablers are easier to create elaborate designs with in terms of its much easier to control the placement and spacing of items in a design. Because there's so many different issues with CSS on a cross-browser level (like the box model), and tables appear the same in all browsers, tables is definately easier.

That, however, does not mean it's better. Once you learn the details of how CSS works in different browsers, it's actually easier to edit existing pages that are written in full css code. I personally haven't used a table to create a layout since 1999-2000. If you're serious about web design and development I'd definately recommend using pure CSS for layouts and only use tables for tabular data. If you're having fun on the internet and just wanting to create some personal site for fun and have no ambitions of making web sites for a living, then by all means feel free to use tables to make layouts.

TeviH · Jul 26, 2006

Depends what the website requires. If you will need to offer content to a broad spectrum, CSS will be required in terms of accessibility. I think that CSS is not yet mature and standardized enough to be fully adopted in all scenarios.

And the semantic argument that tables is for tabular data is stupid. A good designer uses whatever tools are available. Bobby Joe Websurfer certainly doesn't care.

JYM · Jul 26, 2006

When making this thread, I was hesitant in jumping right into CSS because of all the browser issues I heard about. However, there are ways to target certain browsers (IE) and load another stylesheet specifically for it, so this way it is very easy to achieve the same, or nearly the same look, on all browsers. I'm also glad that the html validators recommend using styles, and certain things are deprecated, such as <body leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"> or using <td background: #ffe000>.

This is what I have been able to achieve with CSS: http://www.jymweb.com/puredl (this is not for a review or anything, just wanted to show off what I've learned in three months time).

leviathon · Jul 27, 2006

I had always gave people the advice to use a variety of combinations of tables, divisions, and CSS. Normally I would use DIVs for the overall look (float properties for columns, etc.) and then tables for organizing my content. Though tables cause your website to slow down a little bit, it's worth it if you find it easier to code this way or if it's necessary to do so, I guess.

JYM · Jul 27, 2006

I'd also like to make a note that Microsoft's new homepage (located here for IE users http://preview.microsoft.com/en/us/default.aspx) uses tableless design. I say it is for IE users because if you use FF, it will redirect to microsoft's regular homepage. Also, it is rather funny that Microsoft uses tableless design when it's IE5.0 and IE6.0 are buggy with CSS. Nonetheless, tables are slowly disappearing and replaced with divs, so I made a right choice in throwing away tables.

RickM · Jul 27, 2006

I've never realy bothered looking much into CSS only designs, i always use tables & css as it gives layouts a more solid structure and they are harder to break.

I suppose i should switch over to CSS though...its "the next big thing".

Tables and CSS vs. Pure CSS

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