Tables and browsers

table sorting features should be integrated into browsers

[Xapti]

we all know it... proper use of tables means using tabular data. Tabular data, such as spreadsheet and other tables, are often sorted in columns with the same type of information per column.

What I've always wondered though, is if tables have existed so long, and are perhaps being used more than ever for tabular data, why do browsers not implement a "sorting" functionality for tables? so that users can sort tabular data in the fashion they desire, instead of forcing the webmaster to use javascript, or the user to use some crazy greasemonkey script.

Frankly, I thought that's the whole reason why the W3C made use of so many standards for the table element, so it could be sorted by a reader. Perhaps it is being recommended or or something in the next generation of HTML, that browsers must have this, but I doubt it. I think it would be a good idea, and just just as an option for browsers, but required.

[eelixduppy]

It wouldn't surprise me if there are add-ons for something like this on the net somewhere; you might want to check the mozilla add-ons as I'm sure you'll find something with this functionality.

The way I see it, however, is that if a visitor to a site needs data sorted in a particular way then the developer of that site should have that as a sorting option. If it is not there then that is just poor design on the developer's part.