Mandatory

• Tables must not be used for layout. They must only be used to display information.
• The information in a table must make sense when read from left to right.

Reasons for this web standard

Accessibility and usability

Guidance

Hints and tips

• Tables cannot be used to create non-standard layouts (such as columns of text or images). If you were thinking of doing this, you must contact the Digital Delivery Team for advice on page layouts.
• Make sure that the text in the table is clear and easy to follow. The information must be presented from left to right so that a text reader for the visually impaired would make sense of the words.
• Don't paste in tables from Microsoft Word or other programs as these can cause problems. Instead create a new table in Squiz Matrix and enter your information into that.
• Tables are most suitable for displaying information that needs to be compared from row to row or column to column. For simple information, a list may be a better option.

Examples

This table is acceptable. It has headings at the top of each row (see the standard for table headings) and it makes sense if you read each row from left to right.

However, it could be easier to present this information without using a table like so:

Parents conference
Monday 19 March, 9.30 - 11.30am
Bishop David Brown School, Albert Drive, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5RF

Open evening
Monday 23 April, 7.30 - 9pm
Bishop David Brown School, Albert Drive, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5RF

Induction session
Monday 21 May, 9.30 - 11.30am
Bishop David Brown School, Albert Drive, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5RF

The table below is not acceptable. It has no headings and is being used just for layout.

Avoid columns of text. A text reader will not	Avoid nested tables	Keep tables simple
be able to make sense of them, as	Backgrounds should be transparent
they read from left to right across columns.

Reading it from left to right (as a text reader would) it would read as:"Avoid columns of text. A text reader will not avoid nested tables keep tables simple be able to make sense of them, as backgrounds should be transparent they read from left to right across columns". This is why you must add content to our tables so that it can be read from left to right.

A good example of a table can be found on the Travel planning in Guildford page. It would be difficult to present this information without a table and still be able to clearly see and compare the 'Planning Requirement' and 'Travel Plan agreed' information.

Why we have this web standard

Accessibility and usability - This standard is mandatory for accessibility and usability reasons.

Accessibility - People with text readers need tables to be properly laid out in order to be able to understand them.

Usability - Clearly labelled and well laid out tables make it easy for everybody to understand the information they are presenting.

Related web standards:

• Mandatory: All table columns must have a heading in the first row.
• Mandatory: Settings for table borders and backgrounds should not be changed.