Tables - and what not to do with them.

When first learning basic html, you will probably come across tables. At first sight you may think that creating a website of tables to layout your website is a great idea. Unfortunately today, with CSS gaining ground next to html, we now have a better alternative. Using CSS is superior to tables when dealing with layout, and this is why.

Why CSS is better to use:

1. Tables are usually more bytes than CSS
   • Longer to download, so it is slower to display in your browser.
   
   
2. Tables usually prevent incremental rendering
   • Images can't load a little at a time, making the users wait.
   
   
3. Tables can require you to "chop" a bigger image into smaller ones.
   • For the sake of layout, you might have to separate a big image into smaller ones to make everything align.
   • This makes the file size larger, and slower to load.
   
   
4. Tables can prevent some layout features from working within them.
   • Tags like height:100% won't work.
   • This can limit what you can do inside of a table.
   
   
5. Tables take longer to impliment than CSS
   • Although CSS takes time to learn, it will be quicker to use than tables.
   
   
6. Tables should describe content, not presentation.
   • CSS should be used specifically for presentation, while HTML for content.
   
   
7. Tables are horrible for people using screen readers.
   • You would help the blind or partially sighted to understand your website.
   • This makes your website more accessible to everyone.
   
   
8. Tables make it harder to redesign.
   • If you use tables for layout, you are pretty much "locked in" to your design.
   • Using CSS, it is very easy to change any aspect of your website.
   
   

Why are tables better to use?

1. ...um... that's a tough one...
   • Reading all of the above about CSS, why would you ever want to use tables again?
   
   

To be fair however, tables aren't all that bad. Like I said in point 7, tables should be use to describe content. If you had a list that you wanted to put in your website like below, that would be fine.

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