2 : Basic Table Elements

Let's begin with the basic elements of a table and their corresponding terminology in HTML.
A table is made up of horizontal rows and vertical columns:

Table 1
Row 1, Column 1 Row 1, Column 2 Row 1, Column 3

Row 2, Column 1 Row 2, Column 2 Row 2, Column 3

Row 3, Column 1 Row 3, Column 2 Row 3, Column 3

In HTML you lay out a table by creating each row, called "table rows" and then dividing that row into columns, called "table data."
Here's the code for the above table:

Table 1 Code

<table align=center border=2> <tr> <td>Row 1, Column 1</td> <td>Row 1, Column 2</td> <td>Row 1, Column 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Row 2, Column 1</td> <td>Row 2, Column 2</td> <td>Row 2, Column 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Row 3, Column 1</td> <td>Row 3, Column 2</td> <td>Row 3, Column 3</td> </tr> </table>

You can see the basic elements in this code:

There are opening and closing <table> tags.
There are three table rows, indicated by opening and closing <tr> tags.
Each row has three cells, which make up the "columns," indicated by opening and closing <td> tags ("td" stands for "table data").

You are probably noticing the two attributes in the opening <table> tag; the align attribute positions the table horizontally, and the border attribute puts the visible border around the table cells. (More on these attributes later.)


Copyright© 1998. Liberty Miller . All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced without the written permission of the author.
		Page 2

2 : Basic Table Elements

Page 2