Difference between table and div tags

March 23, 2010 at 1:21 pm (html)
Tags: difference between table and div base

Tables are still quite acceptable for displaying layout elements that are in a tabular layout format, and in fact can be better than divs with such
layout. However, divs are more flexible for the same reason – they do not restrict the layout to tabular format. Instead, a div is like a “floating
box” that can be positioned anywhere you want.

Good web design specifies seperating content from presentation. That is, seperating the actual text of your site from it’s layout and style.

Tables have many problems, including being more difficult for those with disabilities to read, as well as making it more difficult for search
engines to find relevant information.

div/css based sites tend to get better page ranks in google and other crawlers because the site is “semantically” relevant. That is, you’ve
tagged parts of your page with bits of information that defines its importance, such as using h1/h2/h3 tags, etc…

Nothing is preventing you from designing sites as you always have, and 95% of your audience will probably never care. But if you want to be
accessible to those with disabilities (a requirement for government and educational sites, and a growing requirement for corporations – see the
Target Companies lawsuit), then semantic design is the way to go.

Another benefit is that div/css based sites tend to use a lot less bandwidth, which can save you real money if you pay per megabyte for your
hosting.

Author: adeel hussain