Tables or CSS?

by 22 replies
26
why build a site strictly using css? is it because it's easier? is it because it's better for seo?

why not build sites using html but not having content shoved into 20 different tables? i don't understand the craze of building a site strictly in css.

how difficult is it to build a site using just css?
#website design #css #tables
  • It's not really all that difficult to make CSS sites. for me, the decreased page load time of a css site is the main factor. You can find more discussion here:
    CSS vs Tables - 13 Reasons Why CSS Is Superior to Tables in Website Design | CHROMATIC
  • We build all our sites using CSS. It is not a long method! In fact, we find it quicker.

    There will be differing views on the SEO impact, I am sure, but we never use tables for styling in any site.
  • CSS make your site load faster and and SEO friendly, it also solve Browser issues.
  • Change the appearance of hundreds of Web pages by changing just one file. Thats why every developer like to use CSS.
    • [1] reply
    • ^ Yep, what he said.

      You can keep all of your styling in one file for the entire site so when you want to make changes you don't have to make that change to 20 or a hundred different files.
      • [1] reply
  • My CSS site seems got some problems. In IE 7.0 if you the restore and maximize my website, the content will be relocated. Can someone help me to find out the reason?
    Thanks a lot.

    toplink.com.au
    • [1] reply
    • All of your footer links seem to be broken. I get 404 when I click on any of those links.
  • CSS is better for SEO and much, much easier for design than managing tables, it does take a bit of time to learn. Table based websites are not acceptable or standards compliant in 2011.
  • The best way to explain would be visually.

    With tables you make a search engine sort through this to find your content:

    HTML Code:
    <table width="560" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="10">
  <tr align="left" valign="top">
    <td>Some Content</td>
  </tr>
</table>

    But if instead you use divs and externally loaded css they only have to go through:

    HTML Code:
    <div>Some Content</div>

    So aside of the fact that styling via CSS is much easier and more powerful, using tables for all your layout is like camouflaging your content so it's harder to see.

    Tables still have their purpose: for presenting tabular data. But outside of that you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't use the lightest most powerful possible coding methods.
  • css is great if you don't know css I recommend you start learning it at CSS Tutorial

    The only thing that is a pain in the ass with this css stuff is making it compatible with multiple browsers. I don't know who made all these different rules with browsers but sometimes I would like to wring their neck!
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply

    • HERE HERE!! lol.
      • [1] reply
  • both, use tables when you're feeling lazy
  • Guys, its not about styling....We can use styles in tables also....
    We are talking about div based structure and table based structure.
    div based sites are faster to load as they are lighter....a normal page weighs 1-2kb but in table the same page weighs 9-10kb...
    Also css sites are easily rendered in mobile devices.
    but in css sites you have to take care of browser compatibility, OS compatibity

    THNX
  • if you install the 'web developer' toolbar for firefox and use the command ctrl+shift+s it will hide the style sheets attached to a page.

    In a table based layout the page wont look much different, but in a CSS styled layout all you will see is the content.

    When google etc comes to your site what you want to show them is content. This is why CSS is better.

    Less actual html, more content.
  • If you want to set a goal in faster loading page, It'll be better choice to use div tag than table. No one like waiting to see a web with slow loading time.
  • CSS can be as simple or advanced as you need. Anyone can learn the basics in a few hours. Just starting out it may seem like only learning html will save you time, BUT this is not the case in the future.

    Usually people start with basic static pages then grow their sites into multipage/dynamic sites. This is where the couple hours spent learning css really pays off. Seriously nobody codes full websites in straight html anymore.

    Would you rather learn how to ride an old bike down the street or dive a Ferrari? It is worth learning CSS and it is easy. Give it a try!

    Here's a great place to start: w3schools.com/css/
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Tables should be used only to organize information, not for making web site structure.
  • Tables were the main element in the 90's but these days CSS are the elements for style while html is the information. Its not that hard if you know the basics about columns and graphics you can make your own
  • Tables were a solution to a design problem, before css really took off.

    CSS = For Design and Layout
    Tables = For displaying data in a tabled structure.
  • I like to use CSS, because when next time I want to upgrade my site, I only need to go to the css part. ;-)

    No need to get mess with other script.

    Cheers,
    Basyir
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed

  • 26

    Tables or CSS?

    why build a site strictly using css? is it because it's easier? is it because it's better for seo? why not build sites using html but not having content shoved into 20 different tables? i don't understand the craze of building a site strictly in css.