CSS or Tables

[xkarinax]

Hi y'all, I've been doing some reading about CSS and Tables for web layout. What is better? When is one better over the other? I am getting ready to develop a new web application and am wondering what to use....Your input is very much appreciated. Thank YOU! Karina

[bathurst_guy]

Hi,
If you could please make sure that you perform a search of the forum before you post a new thread - you may find that your question has already been discussed! (If not once - numerous times)

[sheepo-designs]

Bathurst is right. But going to your question:

I would totally, totally, inceredibly recommend using CSS versus tables. Sure, their GREEEEAAAATTT at first, but in the long run it isnt worth it. Besides, using CSS is more fun! heh...There are many more possibilites to explore when using CSS, you can do most anything in the style catagory! Sure, yuo can use CSS AND tables, but thats just pointless, it like eatinc a tub of ice cream and working out at the same time, doesn't make much sense!

[Poxicator]

Here's my recent response to this question:
http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?p=555594#post555594

[jogol]

http://veerle.duoh.com/index.php/blog/comments/css_vs_tables/

[xkarinax]

Thank you for all your responses and guiding me in the right direction. I've never worked with CSS (I'm an app developer and am trying to get into web development too) but seems like I have to learn it sooner or later :)

[Davey_M]

definately css for the layout, tho this doesn't mean tables are bad... as i've learnt from reading posts from the members of this forum...

i'm not sure who it was that pointed this out to me, but it made it very clear in my mind...

use css for ur layout

this does not mean u shouldn't use tables within ur layout to display "tablature data", ie: a calendar would ideally be displayed via a table

[ray326]

Better to learn it sooner than later. Table layouts went out with the last century. Think of using HTML for content and CSS for presentation as "separation of concerns", a concept near and dear to the hearts of programmers in general.

[pcthug]

Why tables for layout is stupid: problems defined, solutions offered (http://www.hotdesign.com/seybold/)

[felgall]

1. The CSS can go in an external file separating content from presentation and gaining you a much higher ranking in the search engines.

2. Most layour can be done using much less CSS code than to lay out the same page using tables meaning that your page will load faster.

3. Where you actually have tabular content where there are column headings and or a caption describing the table content then that is when you should use a table.