Best Practices
7 Tables
In this section, we provide guidelines and recommendations for formatting tables.
What are tables?
In this context, tables refer to data tables, which include row and/or column header information to categorize content. (Tables that do not have headers are called layout tables.)
Are your tables simple or complex?
A simple table includes a maximum of one header column and/or one header row. A complex table includes more than one header column and/or header row, and may include merged or split cells.[1]
We recommend you make every effort to keep data tables as simple in structure as possible. The more complex the design of a data table, the less accessible it will be for some students using screen-reading technology. Screen readers move left-to-right, top-to-bottom, one cell at a time, and because a screen reader does not repeat a cell, merging or splitting cells can affect the reading order of a table.
However, you can use merged or split table cells if they are formatted correctly. Check out this web page to learn more: Tables Tutorial.
Who are you doing this for?
Who benefits?
Simplifying complex tables is beneficial to everyone. Making even simple tables accessible is essential for blind and low-vision students who use screen readers to interact with your materials.
In addition, the practice also benefits (among others) students who:
- Have ADHD or other cognitive disabilities
- Access your materials on their phones
- Are new to reading information in tables
What do you need to do?
In the same way that your content hierarchy needs headings and structure (see Organizing Content), tables need a properly defined structure to be accessible. This means that you must add row and column headers to define the different sections of data. Screen readers read tables horizontally—cell by cell, row by row—and row and column headers help give context to the data in each cell for students who are blind, have low vision, or have a cognitive disability.
Create simple tables
A simple table:
- Includes a table title or caption
- Has a maximum of one row of column headers and/or maximum of one column of row headers, with the appropriate scope assigned
- Avoids using merged or split cells
- Provides adequate cell padding (space around the data) for visual learners
Example 1: How to Create a Simple Table
The table below is a simple table. Reviewed against the preceding requirements list, this table:
- Includes a caption (Spring Blossoms)
- Has one row in which cells are tagged as column headers (Color Family, Bulbs, Shrubs, Trees), and one column (beginning on the second row) in which the cells are tagged as row headers (Pink, Yellow)
- Avoids the use of merged or split cells wherever possible
- Has adequate cell padding to provide space buffering around the data in each cell. (Cell padding in this table is set at “10”).
| Color Family | Bulbs | Shrubs | Trees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pink | Tulips | Flowering currant | Ornamental plum |
| Yellow