Tables

so how many tables is too many?

[fashezee]

How many tables is too many on a single page? What are the Min and Max amounts that most designers out there use?

[agerhart]

In my opinion, it isn't the amount of tables. Just make sure that your tables are nested.

[victor]

I've used loads of tables -- I don't think there is an absolute limit.

In some ways it might be better to use more tables. If the whole page is in a table, some browsers won't start rendering until they have the whole thing. That can make the user think it is a slow-loading or dead page. Make it separate tables, and the page will appear in stages making for a happier user.

But nesting can get hairy. 5 or more deep used to upset Netscape. Too many too deep can render oddly on any browser.

[Reflect]

Left field memory...

I believe that after nesting three levels deep that a spider/bot can not read the content.

Brian

[agerhart]

>>> can not

or will not....

[pageoneresults]

One is actually too many. But sometimes you just have to do it!

[moonbiter]

Speaking as a purist, any table used for presenting anything other than tabular data is one too many tables.

As a realist, I usually restrict myself to three for page layout (header, main, footer) in addition to the number needed to present tabular data on the page.

[Mark_A]

fashezee I have always understood the following:

1. dont nest more than 2 (3max) deep - that is tables within tables....

2. if the table gets too large split into two or more to speed downloading of some content.
There is a size of content within a table at which some browsers will only display something when they have downloaded it all this can make for slow surfing...

3. Seperate elements such as header contents footer etc into seperate tables, for ease of editing speed of loading etc ...

Oh and thats not getting into mixing % and px sizing which starts another whole ball game, or IE and NN compatibility :-( of various formats ...

Hope this helps...
How many did you want to use?

[rewboss]

Nesting more than about 3 deep causes Netscape browsers all sorts of problems with CSS -- even Netscape 6 has the odd spot of trouble.