Table
A table shows data.
When to use
- Data with more than one value per row, where people compare values down a column.
- Data people scan to spot values that stand out.
When not to use
- One item per row. Use a list. A table adds structure you do not need.
- Layout. Screen readers treat a table as data, so using one for layout confuses them.
- Long text in cells. It makes the columns hard to scan.
Guidance
Do
| Queue | Open |
|---|---|
| Billing | 12 |
| Technical | 4 |
Give the table a caption and align numbers to the end, so the digits line up and are easy to compare.
Don't
| Queue | Open |
|---|---|
| Billing | 12 |
| Technical | 4 |
Do not align numbers to the start or leave the table without a caption. The digits do not line up, and screen readers have no name to announce.
Content
What to write, and what to leave out.
- Use short nouns for column labels.
- Keep one kind of value in each column, so people can compare down it.
- An empty message says why there is nothing to show, such as No queues yet.