Data table
This component can be used on basic pages.
Online, tables are best used for comparing data with logical relationships. They are usable when you can see all the content that you need to understand an entry easily.
In PDFs, they are designed for specific paper sizes that are not matched by screens people use to access them.
Tables in online content should:
- Have only brief entries, such as one value in each cell.
- Be re-orientated to tall rather than wide, if necessary.
- Have headers.
- Have the headers marked up in HTML for screen readers, which can also help with reformatting for smaller screens.
Tables in online content should not:
- Merge cells across rows or columns, for example, to:
- avoid repeating entries.
- provide subheadings or annotations.
- Split cells in a column or row to sub-divide them.
- Have empty cells.
Merged or split cells that do not match the overall structure of the table will not be read correctly by screen readers. They often do not display correctly on small screens.
For examples of how you can re-format content, visit the Content Community's reformatting tables for online users.
This is a caption that should describe the table's content. The top row has the headers.
| Department | Students | Faculty | Research Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 450 | 35 | 78 |
| Chemistry | 380 | 28 | 62 |
| Earth Sciences | 210 | 22 | 45 |
| Materials Science | 180 | 18 | 39 |