Tables vs. DIV tags?

[Cossiks27]

Is there any advantages to modifying the div tags for page layout vs. just using tables to define background colors and structure. I am not sure if one is better than the other or what the difference is. Please help?

 

[Porto88]

i would also like to know the answer to this question
personally i think that the code for tables is alot easier to look at then sorting out the page with div tags, other then that i don't know the differences

 

[Epic]

Tables slow down your page and increase bandwith usage at the same time.

 

[unknownserv]

What CriminalOrigins said, and tables were designed to show data and not for web layouts.

 

[Stefan]

Tables suck. I always use divs while coding. I speeds up coding time rather than having to mess with widths and heights of table rows, etc. It's just much faster for coding, and load times to use divs.

 

[Ben]

http://hotdesign.com/seybold/

 

[tm]

http://hotdesign.com/seybold/

I was going to post that link :P

 

[leviathon]

Well... here are the PROs and CONs IMHO.

<TABLE>

-Less Customizable
-Takes longer to load
-More code = Bad
+Works well with .class and #id (CSS)
+Typically easier to code especially with programs such as Dreamweaver
+Easier <padding>, <cellspacing>, and <border> basic commands

<DIV>

-More difficult to code compared to <table>
-Dependent on CSS
+Takes way less time to load
+Generally easier to customize
+Great for large business websites


I use DIVs for my layouts mostly because my layout's constantly changing and if I use TABLES it will take forever to change each and every one of them.

 

[Shorty]

I personally prefer tables. Eventually it's going to come to the point soon where practically nobody in the world is still running a 56k modem. All this stuff about "pages loading faster" and "taking up less code" is just obsolete arguments. With a half decent connection these differences are hardly noticable in the slightest.

Also, tables are also equally customisable as <div>s using CSS.

Realistically the only real and appropriate argument against tables is the bulk of the code, and the ratio of code to text in pages affecting it's quality and rank in search engines.

 

[tm]

Well... here are the PROs and CONs IMHO.

<TABLE>
+Typically easier to code especially with programs such as Dreamweaver

<DIV>

-More difficult to code compared to <table>

I disagree, I find <div>'s much easier than <tables>. I never learnt tables as layouts, so I guess it's just what you learn first is easier.

 

[jpm6917]

I think the only reason I use tables is because I create HTML with Dreamweaver. Div tags are nice for layering and DOM.

 

[Epic]

Also, with divs you can change something across all your pages easily by just changing on file, like the width of a column or something. With tables, its all located inside the file and not easily changable by a CSS file.

 

[leviathon]

I disagree, I find <div>'s much easier than <tables>. I never learnt tables as layouts, so I guess it's just what you learn first is easier.

Well... it's only my experiences and I respect yours too. See for me I started out (when I was first designing websites) using programs such as MS Frontpage (long ago) and Dreamweaver, etc. and when I first started, I started with TABLE tags.

 

[Epic]

I also started with tables...But I got tired of their limitations, so started learning CSS.

 

[khuldun]

I have been working with tables ever since i started this thing, but now i am startng to learn CSS, though i am finding it quite difficult but i think i need to know it so i am trying

 

[crazyluv]

I found this site to be helpful when looking for the downsides of tables:

http://phrogz.net/CSS/WhyTablesAreBadForLayout.html#slower

I think the biggest advantage for me would have to be customization. It is a lot easier to reorganise or redesign a site that is already made when they use divs. Just change the CSS and leave everything else alone. Of course you would have to be comfortable with CSS to take advantage of this.

Just check out CSS Zen Gardens (also mentioned in the link above).

 

[leviathon]

Tables works with CSS as well. Though Divs are easier to manage.

 

[prototypexx]

tables are my personal preference because theyre easier to manage, i guess


although i sometimes use divs incase i want to display just one small block of information without going through the hassle of making columns, rows, etc

 

[JYM]

If you want to know why Divs and CSS are the future, check this site out:

http://csszengarden.com

By using the same xhtml file, but simply changing the stylesheet, you can change the website's look so dramatically. Recently ESPN converted to tableless design and they are saving 2 TB (or GB, most probably TB) of bandwidth a day!

 

[SKETCHi]

I recently began using CSS to code layouts and have found it quite difficult to get everything right, when working with percentages (fluid/liquid layouts), but all together coding with div's is a lot less time consuming.

Using CSS lets you define each of the separate areas in one block of code. Using tables, you have to do this over and over for each new addition. Things like width, height, colors, fonts, etc...

Like everyone else mentioned, it also takes a lot less code and bandwidth because everything is only defined once, then called to with a very small line of code. This lets Search Engines crawl your pages faster, find things easier and as a result they will index more of your pages.

So in my opinion, the advantages of CSS greatly out weigh those of tables. Tables are out dated now, it would be in your interest to learn how to design and code with CSS.