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Styling tables - Learn web development | MDN
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Metadata in HTML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/HTML_text_fundamentals">HTML text fundamentals</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Creating_hyperlinks">Creating hyperlinks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Advanced_text_formatting">Advanced text formatting</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Document_and_website_structure">Document and website structure</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Debugging_HTML">Debugging HTML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Marking_up_a_letter">Marking up a letter</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Structuring_a_page_of_content">Structuring a page of content</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Multimedia and embedding</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding">Multimedia and embedding</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Images_in_HTML">Images in HTML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Video_and_audio_content">Video and audio content</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Other_embedding_technologies">From object to iframe — other embedding technologies</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Adding_vector_graphics_to_the_Web">Adding vector graphics to the web</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Responsive_images">Responsive images</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Mozilla_splash_page">Mozilla splash page</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>HTML tables</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables">HTML tables</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Basics">HTML table basics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Advanced">HTML table advanced features and accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Structuring_planet_data">Structuring planet data</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS">CSS — Styling the web</a></li><li><details><summary>CSS first steps</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps">CSS first steps</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/What_is_CSS">What is CSS?</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/Getting_started">Getting started with CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/How_CSS_is_structured">How CSS is structured</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/How_CSS_works">How CSS works</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/Styling_a_biography_page">Styling a biography page</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details open=""><summary>CSS building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks">CSS building blocks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors">CSS selectors</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Type_Class_and_ID_Selectors">Type, class, and ID selectors</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Attribute_selectors">Attribute selectors</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Pseudo-classes_and_pseudo-elements">Pseudo-classes and pseudo-elements</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Combinators">Combinators</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Cascade_and_inheritance">Cascade, specificity, and inheritance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Cascade_layers">Cascade layers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/The_box_model">The box model</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Backgrounds_and_borders">Backgrounds and borders</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Handling_different_text_directions">Handling different text directions</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Overflowing_content">Overflowing content</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Values_and_units">CSS values and units</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Sizing_items_in_CSS">Sizing items in CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Images_media_form_elements">Images, media, and form elements</a></li><li><em><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables" aria-current="page">Styling tables</a></em></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Advanced_styling_effects">Advanced styling effects</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Debugging_CSS">Debugging CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Organizing">Organizing your CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Fundamental_CSS_comprehension">Fundamental CSS comprehension</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Creating_fancy_letterheaded_paper">Creating fancy letterheaded paper</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/A_cool_looking_box">A cool-looking box</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Styling text</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text">CSS styling text</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Fundamentals">Fundamental text and font styling</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Styling_lists">Styling lists</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Styling_links">Styling links</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Web_fonts">Web fonts</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Typesetting_a_homepage">Typesetting a community school homepage</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>CSS layout</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout">CSS layout</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Introduction">Introduction to CSS layout</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Normal_Flow">Normal Flow</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Flexbox">Flexbox</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Grids">Grids</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Floats">Floats</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Positioning">Positioning</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Multiple-column_Layout">Multiple-column layout</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Responsive_Design">Responsive design</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Media_queries">Beginner's guide to media queries</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Legacy_Layout_Methods">Legacy layout methods</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Supporting_Older_Browsers">Supporting older browsers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Fundamental_Layout_Comprehension">Fundamental layout comprehension</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript">JavaScript — Dynamic client-side scripting</a></li><li><details><summary>JavaScript first steps</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps">JavaScript first steps</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_is_JavaScript">What is JavaScript?</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/A_first_splash">A first splash into JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_went_wrong">What went wrong? Troubleshooting JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Variables">Storing the information you need — Variables</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Math">Basic math in JavaScript — numbers and operators</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Strings">Handling text — strings in JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Useful_string_methods">Useful string methods</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Arrays">Arrays</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Silly_story_generator">Silly story generator</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>JavaScript building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks">JavaScript building blocks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/conditionals">Making decisions in your code — conditionals</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Looping_code">Looping code</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Functions">Functions — reusable blocks of code</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Build_your_own_function">Build your own function</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Return_values">Function return values</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Events">Introduction to events</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Event_bubbling">Event bubbling</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Image_gallery">Image gallery</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Introducing JavaScript objects</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects">Introducing JavaScript objects</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Basics">JavaScript object basics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object_prototypes">Object prototypes</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object-oriented_programming">Object-oriented programming</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Classes_in_JavaScript">Classes in JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/JSON">Working with JSON</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object_building_practice">Object building practice</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Adding_bouncing_balls_features">Adding features to our bouncing balls demo</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Asynchronous JavaScript</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous">Asynchronous JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Introducing">Introducing asynchronous JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Promises">How to use promises</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Implementing_a_promise-based_API">How to implement a promise-based API</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Introducing_workers">Introducing workers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Sequencing_animations">Sequencing animations</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Client-side web APIs</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs">Client-side web APIs</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Introduction">Introduction to web APIs</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Manipulating_documents">Manipulating documents</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Fetching_data">Fetching data from the server</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Third_party_APIs">Third-party APIs</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Drawing_graphics">Drawing graphics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Video_and_audio_APIs">Video and Audio APIs</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Client-side_storage">Client-side storage</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms">Web forms — Working with user data</a></li><li><details><summary>Web form building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms">Web form building blocks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Your_first_form">Your first form</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/How_to_structure_a_web_form">How to structure a web form</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Basic_native_form_controls">Basic native form controls</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/HTML5_input_types">The HTML5 input types</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Other_form_controls">Other form controls</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Styling_web_forms">Styling web forms</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Advanced_form_styling">Advanced form styling</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/UI_pseudo-classes">UI pseudo-classes</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Form_validation">Client-side form validation</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Sending_and_retrieving_form_data">Sending form data</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Advanced web form techniques</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/How_to_build_custom_form_controls">How to build custom form controls</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Sending_forms_through_JavaScript">Sending forms through JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Property_compatibility_table_for_form_controls">CSS property compatibility table for form controls</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/HTML_forms_in_legacy_browsers">HTML forms in legacy browsers</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility">Accessibility — Make the web usable by everyone</a></li><li><details><summary>Accessibility guides</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility">Accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/What_is_accessibility">What is accessibility?</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/HTML">HTML: A good basis for accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/CSS_and_JavaScript">CSS and JavaScript accessibility best practices</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/WAI-ARIA_basics">WAI-ARIA basics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Multimedia">Accessible multimedia</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Mobile">Mobile accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Accessibility_troubleshooting">Assessment: Accessibility troubleshooting</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance">Performance — Making websites fast and responsive</a></li><li><details><summary>Performance guides</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance">Web performance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/why_web_performance">The "why" of web performance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/What_is_web_performance">What is web performance?</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Perceived_performance">Perceived performance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Measuring_performance">Measuring performance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Multimedia">Multimedia: Images</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/video">Multimedia: video</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/JavaScript">JavaScript performance optimization</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/HTML">HTML performance optimization</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/CSS">CSS performance optimization</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/business_case_for_performance">The business case for web performance</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML">MathML — Writing mathematics with MathML</a></li><li><details><summary>MathML first steps</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps">MathML first steps</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Getting_started">Getting started with MathML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Text_containers">MathML Text Containers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Fractions_and_roots">MathML fractions and roots</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Scripts">MathML scripted elements</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Tables">MathML tables</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Three_famous_mathematical_formulas">Three famous mathematical formulas</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/../Games">Games — Developing games for the web</a></li><li><details><summary>Guides and tutorials</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Games/Introduction">Introduction to game development for the Web</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Games/Techniques">Techniques for game development</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Games/Tutorials">Tutorials</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Games/Publishing_games">Publishing games</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing">Tools and testing</a></li><li><details><summary>Client-side web development tools</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools">Understanding client-side web development tools</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Overview">Client-side tooling overview</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Command_line">Command line crash course</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Package_management">Package management basics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Introducing_complete_toolchain">Introducing a complete toolchain</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Deployment">Deploying our app</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Introduction to client-side frameworks</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Introduction">Introduction to client-side frameworks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Main_features">Framework main features</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>React</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_getting_started">Getting started with React</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_todo_list_beginning">Beginning our React todo list</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_components">Componentizing our React app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_interactivity_events_state">React interactivity: Events and state</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_interactivity_filtering_conditional_rendering">React interactivity: Editing, filtering, conditional rendering</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_accessibility">Accessibility in React</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_resources">React resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Ember</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_getting_started">Getting started with Ember</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_structure_componentization">Ember app structure and componentization</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_interactivity_events_state">Ember interactivity: Events, classes and state</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_conditional_footer">Ember Interactivity: Footer functionality, conditional rendering</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_routing">Routing in Ember</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_resources">Ember resources and troubleshooting</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Vue</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_getting_started">Getting started with Vue</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_first_component">Creating our first Vue component</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_rendering_lists">Rendering a list of Vue components</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_methods_events_models">Adding a new todo form: Vue events, methods, and models</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_styling">Styling Vue components with CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_computed_properties">Using Vue computed properties</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_conditional_rendering">Vue conditional rendering: editing existing todos</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_refs_focus_management">Vue refs and lifecycle methods for focus management</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_resources">Vue resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Svelte</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_getting_started">Getting started with Svelte</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_Todo_list_beginning">Starting our Svelte to-do list app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_variables_props">Dynamic behavior in Svelte: working with variables and props</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_components">Componentizing our Svelte app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_reactivity_lifecycle_accessibility">Advanced Svelte: Reactivity, lifecycle, accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_stores">Working with Svelte stores</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_TypeScript">TypeScript support in Svelte</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_deployment_next">Deployment and next steps</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Angular</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_getting_started">Getting started with Angular</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_todo_list_beginning">Beginning our Angular todo list app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_styling">Styling our Angular app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_item_component">Creating an item component</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_filtering">Filtering our to-do items</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_building">Building Angular applications and further resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Git and GitHub</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/GitHub">Git and GitHub</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Cross browser testing</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing">Cross browser testing</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Introduction">Introduction to cross-browser testing</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Testing_strategies">Strategies for carrying out testing</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/HTML_and_CSS">Handling common HTML and CSS problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/JavaScript">Handling common JavaScript problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Accessibility">Handling common accessibility problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Feature_detection">Implementing feature detection</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Automated_testing">Introduction to automated testing</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Your_own_automation_environment">Setting up your own test automation environment</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side">Server-side website programming</a></li><li><details><summary>First steps</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps">Server-side website programming first steps</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Introduction">Introduction to the server side</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Client-Server_overview">Client-Server Overview</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Web_frameworks">Server-side web frameworks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Website_security">Website security</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Django web framework (Python)</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django">Django Web Framework (Python)</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Introduction">Django introduction</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/development_environment">Setting up a Django development environment</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Tutorial_local_library_website">Django Tutorial: The Local Library website</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/skeleton_website">Django Tutorial Part 2: Creating a skeleton website</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Models">Django Tutorial Part 3: Using models</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Admin_site">Django Tutorial Part 4: Django admin site</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Home_page">Django Tutorial Part 5: Creating our home page</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Generic_views">Django Tutorial Part 6: Generic list and detail views</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Sessions">Django Tutorial Part 7: Sessions framework</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Authentication">Django Tutorial Part 8: User authentication and permissions</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Forms">Django Tutorial Part 9: Working with forms</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Testing">Django Tutorial Part 10: Testing a Django web application</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Deployment">Django Tutorial Part 11: Deploying Django to production</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/web_application_security">Django web application security</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/django_assessment_blog">Assessment: DIY Django mini blog</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Express Web Framework (Node.js/JavaScript)</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs">Express web framework (Node.js/JavaScript)</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Introduction">Express/Node introduction</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/development_environment">Setting up a Node development environment</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Tutorial_local_library_website">Express Tutorial: The Local Library website</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/skeleton_website">Express Tutorial Part 2: Creating a skeleton website</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/mongoose">Express Tutorial Part 3: Using a Database (with Mongoose)</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/routes">Express Tutorial Part 4: Routes and controllers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Displaying_data">Express Tutorial Part 5: Displaying library data</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/forms">Express Tutorial Part 6: Working with forms</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/deployment">Express Tutorial Part 7: Deploying to production</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions">Further resources</a></li><li><details><summary>Common questions</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions">Common questions</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Howto">Use HTML to solve common problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Howto">Use CSS to solve common problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Howto">Solve common problems in your JavaScript code</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Web_mechanics">Web mechanics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Tools_and_setup">Tools and setup</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Design_and_accessibility">Design and accessibility</a></li></ol></details></li></ol></div></div><section class="place side"></section></nav></aside><div class="toc-container"><aside class="toc"><nav><div class="document-toc-container"><section class="document-toc"><header><h2 class="document-toc-heading">In this article</h2></header><ul class="document-toc-list"><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#a_typical_html_table">A typical HTML table</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#styling_our_table">Styling our table</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#table_styling_quick_tips">Table styling quick tips</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#test_your_skills!">Test your skills!</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#summary">Summary</a></li></ul></section></div></nav></aside><section class="place side"></section></div></div><main id="content" class="main-content "><article class="main-page-content" lang="en-US"><header><h1>Styling tables</h1></header><div class="section-content"><ul class="prev-next"> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Images_media_form_elements"><span class="button-wrap"> Previous </span></a></li> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks"><span class="button-wrap"> Overview: CSS building blocks</span></a></li> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Advanced_styling_effects"><span class="button-wrap"> Next </span></a></li> </ul> <p>Styling an HTML table isn't the most glamorous job in the world, but sometimes we all have to do it. This article provides a guide to making HTML tables look good, with some specific table styling techniques highlighted.</p> <figure class="table-container"><table> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="row">Prerequisites:</th> <td> HTML basics (study <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML">Introduction to HTML</a>), knowledge of <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables">HTML tables</a>, and an idea of how CSS works (study CSS first steps.) </td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row">Objective:</th> <td>To learn how to effectively style HTML tables.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></figure></div><section aria-labelledby="a_typical_html_table"><h2 id="a_typical_html_table"><a href="#a_typical_html_table">A typical HTML table</a></h2><div class="section-content"><p>Let's start by looking at a typical HTML table. Well, I say typical — most HTML table examples are about shoes, or the weather, or employees; we decided to make things more interesting by making it about famous punk bands from the UK. The markup looks like so:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">html</span></div><pre class="brush: html notranslate"><code><table> <caption> A summary of the UK's most famous punk bands </caption> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col">Band</th> <th scope="col">Year formed</th> <th scope="col">No. of Albums</th> <th scope="col">Most famous song</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="row">Buzzcocks</th> <td>1976</td> <td>9</td> <td>Ever fallen in love (with someone you shouldn't've)</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row">The Clash</th> <td>1976</td> <td>6</td> <td>London Calling</td> </tr> <!-- several other great bands --> <tr> <th scope="row">The Stranglers</th> <td>1974</td> <td>17</td> <td>No More Heroes</td> </tr> </tbody> <tfoot> <tr> <th scope="row" colspan="2">Total albums</th> <td colspan="2">77</td> </tr> </tfoot> </table> </code></pre></div> <p>The table is nicely marked up, easily stylable, and accessible, thanks to features such as <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th#scope"><code>scope</code></a>, <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/caption"><code><caption></code></a>, <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead"><code><thead></code></a>, <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tbody"><code><tbody></code></a>, etc. Unfortunately, it doesn't look good when rendered on the screen (see it live at <a href="https://mdn.github.io/learning-area/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/punk-bands-unstyled.html" class="external" target="_blank">punk-bands-unstyled.html</a>):</p> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-unstyled.png" alt="an unstyled table showing a summary of Uk's famous punk bands" width="723" height="263" loading="lazy"> </p> <p>With only the default browser styling it looks cramped, hard to read, and boring. We need to use some CSS to fix this up.</p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="styling_our_table"><h2 id="styling_our_table"><a href="#styling_our_table">Styling our table</a></h2><div class="section-content"><p>Let's work through styling our table example together.</p> <ol> <li> <p>To start with, make a local copy of the <a href="https://github.com/mdn/learning-area/blob/main/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/punk-bands-unstyled.html" class="external" target="_blank">sample markup</a>, download both images (<a href="https://github.com/mdn/learning-area/blob/main/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/noise.png" class="external" target="_blank">noise</a> and <a href="https://github.com/mdn/learning-area/blob/main/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/leopardskin.jpg" class="external" target="_blank">leopardskin</a>), and put the three resulting files in a working directory somewhere on your local computer.</p> </li> <li> <p>Next, create a new file called <code>style.css</code> and save it in the same directory as your other files.</p> </li> <li> <p>Link the CSS to the HTML by placing the following line of HTML inside your <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/head"><code><head></code></a>:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">html</span></div><pre class="brush: html notranslate"><code><link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet" /> </code></pre></div> </li> </ol></div></section><section aria-labelledby="spacing_and_layout"><h3 id="spacing_and_layout"><a href="#spacing_and_layout">Spacing and layout</a></h3><div class="section-content"><p>The first thing we need to do is sort out the spacing/layout — default table styling is so cramped! To do this, add the following CSS to your <code>style.css</code> file:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>/* spacing */ table { table-layout: fixed; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border: 3px solid purple; } thead th:nth-child(1) { width: 30%; } thead th:nth-child(2) { width: 20%; } thead th:nth-child(3) { width: 15%; } thead th:nth-child(4) { width: 35%; } th, td { padding: 20px; } </code></pre></div> <p>The most important parts to note are as follows:</p> <ul> <li> <p>A <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/table-layout"><code>table-layout</code></a> value of <code>fixed</code> is generally a good idea to set on your table, as it makes the table behave a bit more predictably by default. Normally, table columns tend to be sized according to how much content they contain, which produces some strange results. With <code>table-layout: fixed</code>, you can size your columns according to the width of their headings, and then deal with their content as appropriate. This is why we've selected the four different headings with the <code>thead th:nth-child(n)</code> (<a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:nth-child"><code>:nth-child</code></a>) selector ("Select the n-th child that is a <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th"><code><th></code></a> element in a sequence, inside a <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead"><code><thead></code></a> element") and given them set percentage widths. The entire column width follows the width of its heading, making for a nice way to size your table columns. Chris Coyier discusses this technique in more detail in <a href="https://css-tricks.com/fixing-tables-long-strings/" class="external" target="_blank">Fixed Table Layouts</a>.</p> <p>We've coupled this with a <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/width"><code>width</code></a> of 100%, meaning that the table will fill any container it is put in, and be nicely responsive (although it would still need some more work to get it looking good on narrow screen widths).</p> </li> <li> <p>A <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/border-collapse"><code>border-collapse</code></a> value of <code>collapse</code> is standard best practice for any table styling effort. By default, when you set borders on table elements, they will all have spacing between them, as the below image illustrates: <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/no-border-collapse.png" alt="a 2 by 2 table with default spacing between the borders showing no border collapse" width="166" height="65" loading="lazy"> This doesn't look very nice (although it might be the look you want, who knows?). With <code>border-collapse: collapse;</code> set, the borders collapse down into one, which looks much better: <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/border-collapse.png" alt="a 2 by 2 table with border-collapse property set to collapse showing borders collapse into one" width="158" height="58" loading="lazy"> </p> </li> <li> <p>We've put a <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/border"><code>border</code></a> around the whole table, which is needed because we'll be putting some borders around the table header and footer later on — it looks really odd and disjointed when you don't have a border around the whole outside of the table and end up with gaps.</p> </li> <li> <p>We've set some <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/padding"><code>padding</code></a> on the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th"><code><th></code></a> and <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/td"><code><td></code></a> elements — this gives the data items some space to breathe, making the table look a lot more legible.</p> </li> </ul> <p>At this point, our table already looks a lot better:</p> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-with-spacing.png" alt="a semi-styled table with spacing to make the data more legible and showing a summary of Uk's famous punk bands" width="723" height="303" loading="lazy"> </p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="some_simple_typography"><h3 id="some_simple_typography"><a href="#some_simple_typography">Some simple typography</a></h3><div class="section-content"><p>Now we'll get our text sorted out a bit.</p> <p>First of all, we've found a font on <a href="https://fonts.google.com/" class="external" target="_blank">Google Fonts</a> that is suitable for a table about punk bands. You can go there and find a different one if you like; you'll just have to replace our provided <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/link"><code><link></code></a> element and custom <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/font-family"><code>font-family</code></a> declaration with the ones Google Fonts gives you.</p> <p>First, add the following <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/link"><code><link></code></a> element into your HTML head, just above your existing <code><link></code> element:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">html</span></div><pre class="brush: html notranslate"><code><link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Rock+Salt" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> </code></pre></div> <p>Now add the following CSS into your <code>style.css</code> file, below the previous addition:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>/* typography */ html { font-family: "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; } thead th, tfoot th { font-family: "Rock Salt", cursive; } th { letter-spacing: 2px; } td { letter-spacing: 1px; } tbody td { text-align: center; } tfoot th { text-align: right; } </code></pre></div> <p>There is nothing really specific to tables here; we are generally tweaking the font styling to make things easier to read:</p> <ul> <li>We have set a global sans-serif font stack; this is purely a stylistic choice. We've also set our custom font on the headings inside the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead"><code><thead></code></a> and <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot"><code><tfoot></code></a> elements, for a nice grungy, punky look.</li> <li>We've set some <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/letter-spacing"><code>letter-spacing</code></a> on the headings and cells, as we feel it aids readability. Again, mostly a stylistic choice.</li> <li>We've center-aligned the text in the table cells inside the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tbody"><code><tbody></code></a> so that they line up with the headings. By default, cells are given a <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/text-align"><code>text-align</code></a> value of <code>left</code>, and headings are given a value of <code>center</code>, but generally it looks better to have the alignments set the same for both. The default bold weight on the heading fonts is enough to differentiate their look.</li> <li>We've right-aligned the heading inside the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot"><code><tfoot></code></a> so that it is visually associated better with its data point.</li> </ul> <p>The result looks a bit neater:</p> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-with-typography.png" alt="a styled table with a global sans-serif font stack and good spacing to make the data more legible and showing a summary of Uk's famous punk bands" width="723" height="326" loading="lazy"> </p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="graphics_and_colors"><h3 id="graphics_and_colors"><a href="#graphics_and_colors">Graphics and colors</a></h3><div class="section-content"><p>Now onto graphics and colors! Because the table is full of punk and attitude, we need to give it some bright imposing styling to suit it. Don't worry, you don't have to make your tables this loud — you can opt for something more subtle and tasteful.</p> <p>Start by adding the following CSS to your <code>style.css</code> file, again at the bottom:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>/* graphics and colors */ thead, tfoot { background: url(leopardskin.jpg); color: white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px black; } thead th, tfoot th, tfoot td { background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgb(0 0 0 / 10%), rgb(0 0 0 / 50%)); border: 3px solid purple; } </code></pre></div> <p>Again, there's nothing specific to tables here, but it is worthwhile to note a few things.</p> <p>We've added a <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/background-image"><code>background-image</code></a> to the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead"><code><thead></code></a> and <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot"><code><tfoot></code></a>, and changed the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/color"><code>color</code></a> of all the text inside the header and footer to white (and given it a <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/text-shadow"><code>text-shadow</code></a>) so it is readable. You should always make sure your text contrasts well with your background, so it is readable.</p> <p>We've also added a linear gradient to the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th"><code><th></code></a> and <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/td"><code><td></code></a> elements inside the header and footer for a nice bit of texture, as well as giving those elements a bright purple border. It is useful to have multiple nested elements available so you can layer styles on top of one another. Yes, we could have put both the background image and the linear gradient on the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead"><code><thead></code></a> and <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot"><code><tfoot></code></a> elements using multiple background images, but we decided to do it separately for the benefit of older browsers that don't support multiple background images or linear gradients.</p> <h4 id="zebra_striping">Zebra striping</h4> <p>We wanted to dedicate a separate section to showing you how to implement <strong>zebra stripes</strong> — alternating rows of color that make the different data rows in your table easier to parse and read. Add the following CSS to the bottom of your <code>style.css</code> file:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>/* zebra striping */ tbody tr:nth-child(odd) { background-color: #ff33cc; } tbody tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #e495e4; } tbody tr { background-image: url(noise.png); } table { background-color: #ff33cc; } </code></pre></div> <ul> <li>Earlier on you saw the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:nth-child"><code>:nth-child</code></a> selector being used to select specific child elements. It can also be given a formula as a parameter, so it will select a sequence of elements. The formula <code>2n+1</code> would select all the odd numbered children (1, 3, 5, etc.) and the formula <code>2n</code> would select all the even numbered children (2, 4, 6, etc.) We've used the <code>odd</code> and <code>even</code> keywords in our code, which do exactly the same things as the aforementioned formulae. In this case we are giving the odd and even rows different (lurid) colors.</li> <li>We've also added a repeating background tile to all the body rows, which is just a bit of noise (a semi-transparent <code>.png</code> with a bit of visual distortion on it) to provide some texture.</li> <li>Lastly, we've given the entire table a solid background color so that browsers that don't support the <code>:nth-child</code> selector still have a background for their body rows.</li> </ul> <p>This color explosion results in the following look:</p> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-with-color.png" alt="a well styled table with a repeating background in the body rows and the entire table a solid background to make the data showing a summary of Uk's famous punk bands more appealing" width="723" height="329" loading="lazy"> </p> <p>Now, this may be a bit over the top and not to your taste, but the point we are trying to make here is that tables don't have to be boring and academic.</p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="styling_the_caption"><h3 id="styling_the_caption"><a href="#styling_the_caption">Styling the caption</a></h3><div class="section-content"><p>There is one last thing to do with our table — style the caption. To do this, add the following to the bottom of your <code>style.css</code> file:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>/* caption */ caption { font-family: "Rock Salt", cursive; padding: 20px; font-style: italic; caption-side: bottom; color: #666; text-align: right; letter-spacing: 1px; } </code></pre></div> <p>There is nothing remarkable here, except for the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/caption-side"><code>caption-side</code></a> property, which has been given a value of <code>bottom</code>. This causes the caption to be positioned on the bottom of the table, which along with the other declarations gives us this final look (see it live at <a href="https://mdn.github.io/learning-area/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/punk-bands-complete.html" class="external" target="_blank">punk-bands-complete.html</a>):</p> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-with-caption.png" alt="a white background below the styled table containing a caption of what the table is about. "a summary of Uk's famous punk bands" in this case" width="723" height="357" loading="lazy"> </p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="table_styling_quick_tips"><h2 id="table_styling_quick_tips"><a href="#table_styling_quick_tips">Table styling quick tips</a></h2><div class="section-content"><p>Before moving on, we thought we'd provide you with a quick list of the most useful points illustrated above:</p> <ul> <li>Make your table markup as simple as possible, and keep things flexible, e.g. by using percentages, so the design is more responsive.</li> <li>Use <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/table-layout"><code>table-layout: fixed</code></a> to create a more predictable table layout that allows you to easily set column widths by setting <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/width"><code>width</code></a> on their headings (<a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th"><code><th></code></a>).</li> <li>Use <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/border-collapse"><code>border-collapse: collapse</code></a> to make table elements borders collapse into each other, producing a neater and easier to control look.</li> <li>Use <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead"><code><thead></code></a>, <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tbody"><code><tbody></code></a>, and <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot"><code><tfoot></code></a> to break up your table into logical chunks and provide extra places to apply CSS to, so it is easier to layer styles on top of one another if required.</li> <li>Use zebra striping to make alternative rows easier to read.</li> <li>Use <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/text-align"><code>text-align</code></a> to line up your <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th"><code><th></code></a> and <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/td"><code><td></code></a> text, to make things neater and easier to follow.</li> </ul></div></section><section aria-labelledby="test_your_skills!"><h2 id="test_your_skills!"><a href="#test_your_skills!">Test your skills!</a></h2><div class="section-content"><p>You've reached the end of this article, but can you remember the most important information? You can find some further tests to verify that you've retained this information before you move on — see <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Tables_tasks">Test your skills: Tables</a>.</p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="summary"><h2 id="summary"><a href="#summary">Summary</a></h2><div class="section-content"><p>With styling tables now behind us, we need something else to occupy our time. The next article explores <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Debugging_CSS">debugging CSS</a> — how to solve problems such as layouts not looking like they should, or properties not applying when you think they should. This includes information on using browser DevTools to find solutions to your problems.</p><ul class="prev-next"> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Images_media_form_elements"><span class="button-wrap"> Previous </span></a></li> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks"><span class="button-wrap"> Overview: CSS building blocks</span></a></li> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Advanced_styling_effects"><span class="button-wrap"> Next </span></a></li> </ul></div></section></article><aside class="article-footer"><div class="article-footer-inner"><div class="svg-container"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="162" height="162" viewBox="0 0 162 162" fill="none" role="none"><mask id="b" fill="#fff"><path d="M97.203 47.04c8.113-7.886 18.004-13.871 28.906-17.492a78 78 0 0 1 33.969-3.39c11.443 1.39 22.401 5.295 32.024 11.411s17.656 14.28 23.476 23.86c5.819 9.579 9.269 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Metadata in HTML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/HTML_text_fundamentals\">HTML text fundamentals</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Creating_hyperlinks\">Creating hyperlinks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Advanced_text_formatting\">Advanced text formatting</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Document_and_website_structure\">Document and website structure</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Debugging_HTML\">Debugging HTML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Marking_up_a_letter\">Marking up a letter</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Structuring_a_page_of_content\">Structuring a page of content</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Multimedia and embedding</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding\">Multimedia and embedding</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Images_in_HTML\">Images in HTML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Video_and_audio_content\">Video and audio content</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Other_embedding_technologies\">From object to iframe — other embedding technologies</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Adding_vector_graphics_to_the_Web\">Adding vector graphics to the web</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Responsive_images\">Responsive images</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Mozilla_splash_page\">Mozilla splash page</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>HTML tables</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables\">HTML tables</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Basics\">HTML table basics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Advanced\">HTML table advanced features and accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Structuring_planet_data\">Structuring planet data</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS\">CSS — Styling the web</a></li><li><details><summary>CSS first steps</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps\">CSS first steps</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/What_is_CSS\">What is CSS?</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/Getting_started\">Getting started with CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/How_CSS_is_structured\">How CSS is structured</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/How_CSS_works\">How CSS works</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/Styling_a_biography_page\">Styling a biography page</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details open=\"\"><summary>CSS building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks\">CSS building blocks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors\">CSS selectors</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Type_Class_and_ID_Selectors\">Type, class, and ID selectors</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Attribute_selectors\">Attribute selectors</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Pseudo-classes_and_pseudo-elements\">Pseudo-classes and pseudo-elements</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Combinators\">Combinators</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Cascade_and_inheritance\">Cascade, specificity, and inheritance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Cascade_layers\">Cascade layers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/The_box_model\">The box model</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Backgrounds_and_borders\">Backgrounds and borders</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Handling_different_text_directions\">Handling different text directions</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Overflowing_content\">Overflowing content</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Values_and_units\">CSS values and units</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Sizing_items_in_CSS\">Sizing items in CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Images_media_form_elements\">Images, media, and form elements</a></li><li><em><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables\" aria-current=\"page\">Styling tables</a></em></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Advanced_styling_effects\">Advanced styling effects</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Debugging_CSS\">Debugging CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Organizing\">Organizing your CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Fundamental_CSS_comprehension\">Fundamental CSS comprehension</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Creating_fancy_letterheaded_paper\">Creating fancy letterheaded paper</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/A_cool_looking_box\">A cool-looking box</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Styling text</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text\">CSS styling text</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Fundamentals\">Fundamental text and font styling</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Styling_lists\">Styling lists</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Styling_links\">Styling links</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Web_fonts\">Web fonts</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Typesetting_a_homepage\">Typesetting a community school homepage</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>CSS layout</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout\">CSS layout</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Introduction\">Introduction to CSS layout</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Normal_Flow\">Normal Flow</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Flexbox\">Flexbox</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Grids\">Grids</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Floats\">Floats</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Positioning\">Positioning</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Multiple-column_Layout\">Multiple-column layout</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Responsive_Design\">Responsive design</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Media_queries\">Beginner's guide to media queries</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Legacy_Layout_Methods\">Legacy layout methods</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Supporting_Older_Browsers\">Supporting older browsers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Fundamental_Layout_Comprehension\">Fundamental layout comprehension</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript\">JavaScript — Dynamic client-side scripting</a></li><li><details><summary>JavaScript first steps</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps\">JavaScript first steps</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_is_JavaScript\">What is JavaScript?</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/A_first_splash\">A first splash into JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_went_wrong\">What went wrong? Troubleshooting JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Variables\">Storing the information you need — Variables</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Math\">Basic math in JavaScript — numbers and operators</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Strings\">Handling text — strings in JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Useful_string_methods\">Useful string methods</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Arrays\">Arrays</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Silly_story_generator\">Silly story generator</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>JavaScript building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks\">JavaScript building blocks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/conditionals\">Making decisions in your code — conditionals</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Looping_code\">Looping code</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Functions\">Functions — reusable blocks of code</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Build_your_own_function\">Build your own function</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Return_values\">Function return values</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Events\">Introduction to events</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Event_bubbling\">Event bubbling</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Image_gallery\">Image gallery</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Introducing JavaScript objects</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects\">Introducing JavaScript objects</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Basics\">JavaScript object basics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object_prototypes\">Object prototypes</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object-oriented_programming\">Object-oriented programming</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Classes_in_JavaScript\">Classes in JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/JSON\">Working with JSON</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object_building_practice\">Object building practice</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Adding_bouncing_balls_features\">Adding features to our bouncing balls demo</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Asynchronous JavaScript</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous\">Asynchronous JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Introducing\">Introducing asynchronous JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Promises\">How to use promises</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Implementing_a_promise-based_API\">How to implement a promise-based API</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Introducing_workers\">Introducing workers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Sequencing_animations\">Sequencing animations</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Client-side web APIs</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs\">Client-side web APIs</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Introduction\">Introduction to web APIs</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Manipulating_documents\">Manipulating documents</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Fetching_data\">Fetching data from the server</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Third_party_APIs\">Third-party APIs</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Drawing_graphics\">Drawing graphics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Video_and_audio_APIs\">Video and Audio APIs</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Client-side_storage\">Client-side storage</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms\">Web forms — Working with user data</a></li><li><details><summary>Web form building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms\">Web form building blocks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Your_first_form\">Your first form</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/How_to_structure_a_web_form\">How to structure a web form</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Basic_native_form_controls\">Basic native form controls</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/HTML5_input_types\">The HTML5 input types</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Other_form_controls\">Other form controls</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Styling_web_forms\">Styling web forms</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Advanced_form_styling\">Advanced form styling</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/UI_pseudo-classes\">UI pseudo-classes</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Form_validation\">Client-side form validation</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Sending_and_retrieving_form_data\">Sending form data</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Advanced web form techniques</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/How_to_build_custom_form_controls\">How to build custom form controls</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Sending_forms_through_JavaScript\">Sending forms through JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Property_compatibility_table_for_form_controls\">CSS property compatibility table for form controls</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/HTML_forms_in_legacy_browsers\">HTML forms in legacy browsers</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility\">Accessibility — Make the web usable by everyone</a></li><li><details><summary>Accessibility guides</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility\">Accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/What_is_accessibility\">What is accessibility?</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/HTML\">HTML: A good basis for accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/CSS_and_JavaScript\">CSS and JavaScript accessibility best practices</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/WAI-ARIA_basics\">WAI-ARIA basics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Multimedia\">Accessible multimedia</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Mobile\">Mobile accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Accessibility_troubleshooting\">Assessment: Accessibility troubleshooting</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance\">Performance — Making websites fast and responsive</a></li><li><details><summary>Performance guides</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance\">Web performance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/why_web_performance\">The \"why\" of web performance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/What_is_web_performance\">What is web performance?</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Perceived_performance\">Perceived performance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Measuring_performance\">Measuring performance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Multimedia\">Multimedia: Images</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/video\">Multimedia: video</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/JavaScript\">JavaScript performance optimization</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/HTML\">HTML performance optimization</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/CSS\">CSS performance optimization</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/business_case_for_performance\">The business case for web performance</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML\">MathML — Writing mathematics with MathML</a></li><li><details><summary>MathML first steps</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps\">MathML first steps</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Getting_started\">Getting started with MathML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Text_containers\">MathML Text Containers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Fractions_and_roots\">MathML fractions and roots</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Scripts\">MathML scripted elements</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Tables\">MathML tables</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Three_famous_mathematical_formulas\">Three famous mathematical formulas</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/../Games\">Games — Developing games for the web</a></li><li><details><summary>Guides and tutorials</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Games/Introduction\">Introduction to game development for the Web</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Games/Techniques\">Techniques for game development</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Games/Tutorials\">Tutorials</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Games/Publishing_games\">Publishing games</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing\">Tools and testing</a></li><li><details><summary>Client-side web development tools</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools\">Understanding client-side web development tools</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Overview\">Client-side tooling overview</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Command_line\">Command line crash course</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Package_management\">Package management basics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Introducing_complete_toolchain\">Introducing a complete toolchain</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Deployment\">Deploying our app</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Introduction to client-side frameworks</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Introduction\">Introduction to client-side frameworks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Main_features\">Framework main features</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>React</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_getting_started\">Getting started with React</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_todo_list_beginning\">Beginning our React todo list</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_components\">Componentizing our React app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_interactivity_events_state\">React interactivity: Events and state</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_interactivity_filtering_conditional_rendering\">React interactivity: Editing, filtering, conditional rendering</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_accessibility\">Accessibility in React</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_resources\">React resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Ember</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_getting_started\">Getting started with Ember</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_structure_componentization\">Ember app structure and componentization</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_interactivity_events_state\">Ember interactivity: Events, classes and state</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_conditional_footer\">Ember Interactivity: Footer functionality, conditional rendering</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_routing\">Routing in Ember</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_resources\">Ember resources and troubleshooting</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Vue</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_getting_started\">Getting started with Vue</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_first_component\">Creating our first Vue component</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_rendering_lists\">Rendering a list of Vue components</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_methods_events_models\">Adding a new todo form: Vue events, methods, and models</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_styling\">Styling Vue components with CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_computed_properties\">Using Vue computed properties</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_conditional_rendering\">Vue conditional rendering: editing existing todos</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_refs_focus_management\">Vue refs and lifecycle methods for focus management</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_resources\">Vue resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Svelte</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_getting_started\">Getting started with Svelte</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_Todo_list_beginning\">Starting our Svelte to-do list app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_variables_props\">Dynamic behavior in Svelte: working with variables and props</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_components\">Componentizing our Svelte app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_reactivity_lifecycle_accessibility\">Advanced Svelte: Reactivity, lifecycle, accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_stores\">Working with Svelte stores</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_TypeScript\">TypeScript support in Svelte</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_deployment_next\">Deployment and next steps</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Angular</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_getting_started\">Getting started with Angular</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_todo_list_beginning\">Beginning our Angular todo list app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_styling\">Styling our Angular app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_item_component\">Creating an item component</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_filtering\">Filtering our to-do items</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_building\">Building Angular applications and further resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Git and GitHub</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/GitHub\">Git and GitHub</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Cross browser testing</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing\">Cross browser testing</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Introduction\">Introduction to cross-browser testing</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Testing_strategies\">Strategies for carrying out testing</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/HTML_and_CSS\">Handling common HTML and CSS problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/JavaScript\">Handling common JavaScript problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Accessibility\">Handling common accessibility problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Feature_detection\">Implementing feature detection</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Automated_testing\">Introduction to automated testing</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Your_own_automation_environment\">Setting up your own test automation environment</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side\">Server-side website programming</a></li><li><details><summary>First steps</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps\">Server-side website programming first steps</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Introduction\">Introduction to the server side</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Client-Server_overview\">Client-Server Overview</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Web_frameworks\">Server-side web frameworks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Website_security\">Website security</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Django web framework (Python)</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django\">Django Web Framework (Python)</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Introduction\">Django introduction</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/development_environment\">Setting up a Django development environment</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Tutorial_local_library_website\">Django Tutorial: The Local Library website</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/skeleton_website\">Django Tutorial Part 2: Creating a skeleton website</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Models\">Django Tutorial Part 3: Using models</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Admin_site\">Django Tutorial Part 4: Django admin site</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Home_page\">Django Tutorial Part 5: Creating our home page</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Generic_views\">Django Tutorial Part 6: Generic list and detail views</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Sessions\">Django Tutorial Part 7: Sessions framework</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Authentication\">Django Tutorial Part 8: User authentication and permissions</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Forms\">Django Tutorial Part 9: Working with forms</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Testing\">Django Tutorial Part 10: Testing a Django web application</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Deployment\">Django Tutorial Part 11: Deploying Django to production</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/web_application_security\">Django web application security</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/django_assessment_blog\">Assessment: DIY Django mini blog</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Express Web Framework (Node.js/JavaScript)</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs\">Express web framework (Node.js/JavaScript)</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Introduction\">Express/Node introduction</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/development_environment\">Setting up a Node development environment</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Tutorial_local_library_website\">Express Tutorial: The Local Library website</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/skeleton_website\">Express Tutorial Part 2: Creating a skeleton website</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/mongoose\">Express Tutorial Part 3: Using a Database (with Mongoose)</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/routes\">Express Tutorial Part 4: Routes and controllers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Displaying_data\">Express Tutorial Part 5: Displaying library data</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/forms\">Express Tutorial Part 6: Working with forms</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/deployment\">Express Tutorial Part 7: Deploying to production</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions\">Further resources</a></li><li><details><summary>Common questions</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions\">Common questions</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Howto\">Use HTML to solve common problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Howto\">Use CSS to solve common problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Howto\">Solve common problems in your JavaScript code</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Web_mechanics\">Web mechanics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Tools_and_setup\">Tools and setup</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Design_and_accessibility\">Design and accessibility</a></li></ol></details></li></ol>","sidebarMacro":"LearnSidebar","body":[{"type":"prose","value":{"id":null,"title":null,"isH3":false,"content":"<ul class=\"prev-next\">\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Images_media_form_elements\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Previous </span></a></li>\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Overview: CSS building blocks</span></a></li>\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Advanced_styling_effects\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Next </span></a></li>\n</ul>\n<p>Styling an HTML table isn't the most glamorous job in the world, but sometimes we all have to do it. This article provides a guide to making HTML tables look good, with some specific table styling techniques highlighted.</p>\n<figure class=\"table-container\"><table>\n <tbody>\n <tr>\n <th scope=\"row\">Prerequisites:</th>\n <td>\n HTML basics (study\n <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML\">Introduction to HTML</a>), knowledge of\n <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables\">HTML tables</a>, and an idea of\n how CSS works (study CSS first steps.)\n </td>\n </tr>\n <tr>\n <th scope=\"row\">Objective:</th>\n <td>To learn how to effectively style HTML tables.</td>\n </tr>\n </tbody>\n</table></figure>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"a_typical_html_table","title":"A typical HTML table","isH3":false,"content":"<p>Let's start by looking at a typical HTML table. Well, I say typical — most HTML table examples are about shoes, or the weather, or employees; we decided to make things more interesting by making it about famous punk bands from the UK. The markup looks like so:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">html</span></div><pre class=\"brush: html notranslate\"><code><table>\n <caption>\n A summary of the UK's most famous punk bands\n </caption>\n <thead>\n <tr>\n <th scope=\"col\">Band</th>\n <th scope=\"col\">Year formed</th>\n <th scope=\"col\">No. of Albums</th>\n <th scope=\"col\">Most famous song</th>\n </tr>\n </thead>\n <tbody>\n <tr>\n <th scope=\"row\">Buzzcocks</th>\n <td>1976</td>\n <td>9</td>\n <td>Ever fallen in love (with someone you shouldn't've)</td>\n </tr>\n <tr>\n <th scope=\"row\">The Clash</th>\n <td>1976</td>\n <td>6</td>\n <td>London Calling</td>\n </tr>\n\n <!-- several other great bands -->\n\n <tr>\n <th scope=\"row\">The Stranglers</th>\n <td>1974</td>\n <td>17</td>\n <td>No More Heroes</td>\n </tr>\n </tbody>\n <tfoot>\n <tr>\n <th scope=\"row\" colspan=\"2\">Total albums</th>\n <td colspan=\"2\">77</td>\n </tr>\n </tfoot>\n</table>\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>The table is nicely marked up, easily stylable, and accessible, thanks to features such as <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th#scope\"><code>scope</code></a>, <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/caption\"><code><caption></code></a>, <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead\"><code><thead></code></a>, <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tbody\"><code><tbody></code></a>, etc. Unfortunately, it doesn't look good when rendered on the screen (see it live at <a href=\"https://mdn.github.io/learning-area/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/punk-bands-unstyled.html\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">punk-bands-unstyled.html</a>):</p>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-unstyled.png\" alt=\"an unstyled table showing a summary of Uk's famous punk bands\" width=\"723\" height=\"263\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>\n<p>With only the default browser styling it looks cramped, hard to read, and boring. We need to use some CSS to fix this up.</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"styling_our_table","title":"Styling our table","isH3":false,"content":"<p>Let's work through styling our table example together.</p>\n<ol>\n <li>\n <p>To start with, make a local copy of the <a href=\"https://github.com/mdn/learning-area/blob/main/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/punk-bands-unstyled.html\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">sample markup</a>, download both images (<a href=\"https://github.com/mdn/learning-area/blob/main/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/noise.png\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">noise</a> and <a href=\"https://github.com/mdn/learning-area/blob/main/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/leopardskin.jpg\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">leopardskin</a>), and put the three resulting files in a working directory somewhere on your local computer.</p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>Next, create a new file called <code>style.css</code> and save it in the same directory as your other files.</p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>Link the CSS to the HTML by placing the following line of HTML inside your <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/head\"><code><head></code></a>:</p>\n <div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">html</span></div><pre class=\"brush: html notranslate\"><code><link href=\"style.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" />\n</code></pre></div>\n </li>\n</ol>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"spacing_and_layout","title":"Spacing and layout","isH3":true,"content":"<p>The first thing we need to do is sort out the spacing/layout — default table styling is so cramped! To do this, add the following CSS to your <code>style.css</code> file:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>/* spacing */\n\ntable {\n table-layout: fixed;\n width: 100%;\n border-collapse: collapse;\n border: 3px solid purple;\n}\n\nthead th:nth-child(1) {\n width: 30%;\n}\n\nthead th:nth-child(2) {\n width: 20%;\n}\n\nthead th:nth-child(3) {\n width: 15%;\n}\n\nthead th:nth-child(4) {\n width: 35%;\n}\n\nth,\ntd {\n padding: 20px;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>The most important parts to note are as follows:</p>\n<ul>\n <li>\n <p>A <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/table-layout\"><code>table-layout</code></a> value of <code>fixed</code> is generally a good idea to set on your table, as it makes the table behave a bit more predictably by default. Normally, table columns tend to be sized according to how much content they contain, which produces some strange results. With <code>table-layout: fixed</code>, you can size your columns according to the width of their headings, and then deal with their content as appropriate. This is why we've selected the four different headings with the <code>thead th:nth-child(n)</code> (<a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:nth-child\"><code>:nth-child</code></a>) selector (\"Select the n-th child that is a <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th\"><code><th></code></a> element in a sequence, inside a <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead\"><code><thead></code></a> element\") and given them set percentage widths. The entire column width follows the width of its heading, making for a nice way to size your table columns. Chris Coyier discusses this technique in more detail in <a href=\"https://css-tricks.com/fixing-tables-long-strings/\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">Fixed Table Layouts</a>.</p>\n <p>We've coupled this with a <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/width\"><code>width</code></a> of 100%, meaning that the table will fill any container it is put in, and be nicely responsive (although it would still need some more work to get it looking good on narrow screen widths).</p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>A <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/border-collapse\"><code>border-collapse</code></a> value of <code>collapse</code> is standard best practice for any table styling effort. By default, when you set borders on table elements, they will all have spacing between them, as the below image illustrates: \n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/no-border-collapse.png\" alt=\"a 2 by 2 table with default spacing between the borders showing no border collapse\" width=\"166\" height=\"65\" loading=\"lazy\"> This doesn't look very nice (although it might be the look you want, who knows?). With <code>border-collapse: collapse;</code> set, the borders collapse down into one, which looks much better: \n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/border-collapse.png\" alt=\"a 2 by 2 table with border-collapse property set to collapse showing borders collapse into one\" width=\"158\" height=\"58\" loading=\"lazy\">\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>We've put a <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/border\"><code>border</code></a> around the whole table, which is needed because we'll be putting some borders around the table header and footer later on — it looks really odd and disjointed when you don't have a border around the whole outside of the table and end up with gaps.</p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>We've set some <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/padding\"><code>padding</code></a> on the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th\"><code><th></code></a> and <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/td\"><code><td></code></a> elements — this gives the data items some space to breathe, making the table look a lot more legible.</p>\n </li>\n</ul>\n<p>At this point, our table already looks a lot better:</p>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-with-spacing.png\" alt=\"a semi-styled table with spacing to make the data more legible and showing a summary of Uk's famous punk bands\" width=\"723\" height=\"303\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"some_simple_typography","title":"Some simple typography","isH3":true,"content":"<p>Now we'll get our text sorted out a bit.</p>\n<p>First of all, we've found a font on <a href=\"https://fonts.google.com/\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">Google Fonts</a> that is suitable for a table about punk bands. You can go there and find a different one if you like; you'll just have to replace our provided <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/link\"><code><link></code></a> element and custom <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/font-family\"><code>font-family</code></a> declaration with the ones Google Fonts gives you.</p>\n<p>First, add the following <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/link\"><code><link></code></a> element into your HTML head, just above your existing <code><link></code> element:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">html</span></div><pre class=\"brush: html notranslate\"><code><link\n href=\"https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Rock+Salt\"\n rel=\"stylesheet\"\n type=\"text/css\" />\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>Now add the following CSS into your <code>style.css</code> file, below the previous addition:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>/* typography */\n\nhtml {\n font-family: \"helvetica neue\", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\n}\n\nthead th,\ntfoot th {\n font-family: \"Rock Salt\", cursive;\n}\n\nth {\n letter-spacing: 2px;\n}\n\ntd {\n letter-spacing: 1px;\n}\n\ntbody td {\n text-align: center;\n}\n\ntfoot th {\n text-align: right;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>There is nothing really specific to tables here; we are generally tweaking the font styling to make things easier to read:</p>\n<ul>\n <li>We have set a global sans-serif font stack; this is purely a stylistic choice. We've also set our custom font on the headings inside the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead\"><code><thead></code></a> and <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot\"><code><tfoot></code></a> elements, for a nice grungy, punky look.</li>\n <li>We've set some <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/letter-spacing\"><code>letter-spacing</code></a> on the headings and cells, as we feel it aids readability. Again, mostly a stylistic choice.</li>\n <li>We've center-aligned the text in the table cells inside the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tbody\"><code><tbody></code></a> so that they line up with the headings. By default, cells are given a <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/text-align\"><code>text-align</code></a> value of <code>left</code>, and headings are given a value of <code>center</code>, but generally it looks better to have the alignments set the same for both. The default bold weight on the heading fonts is enough to differentiate their look.</li>\n <li>We've right-aligned the heading inside the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot\"><code><tfoot></code></a> so that it is visually associated better with its data point.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>The result looks a bit neater:</p>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-with-typography.png\" alt=\"a styled table with a global sans-serif font stack and good spacing to make the data more legible and showing a summary of Uk's famous punk bands\" width=\"723\" height=\"326\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"graphics_and_colors","title":"Graphics and colors","isH3":true,"content":"<p>Now onto graphics and colors! Because the table is full of punk and attitude, we need to give it some bright imposing styling to suit it. Don't worry, you don't have to make your tables this loud — you can opt for something more subtle and tasteful.</p>\n<p>Start by adding the following CSS to your <code>style.css</code> file, again at the bottom:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>/* graphics and colors */\n\nthead,\ntfoot {\n background: url(leopardskin.jpg);\n color: white;\n text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px black;\n}\n\nthead th,\ntfoot th,\ntfoot td {\n background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgb(0 0 0 / 10%), rgb(0 0 0 / 50%));\n border: 3px solid purple;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>Again, there's nothing specific to tables here, but it is worthwhile to note a few things.</p>\n<p>We've added a <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/background-image\"><code>background-image</code></a> to the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead\"><code><thead></code></a> and <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot\"><code><tfoot></code></a>, and changed the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/color\"><code>color</code></a> of all the text inside the header and footer to white (and given it a <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/text-shadow\"><code>text-shadow</code></a>) so it is readable. You should always make sure your text contrasts well with your background, so it is readable.</p>\n<p>We've also added a linear gradient to the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th\"><code><th></code></a> and <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/td\"><code><td></code></a> elements inside the header and footer for a nice bit of texture, as well as giving those elements a bright purple border. It is useful to have multiple nested elements available so you can layer styles on top of one another. Yes, we could have put both the background image and the linear gradient on the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead\"><code><thead></code></a> and <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot\"><code><tfoot></code></a> elements using multiple background images, but we decided to do it separately for the benefit of older browsers that don't support multiple background images or linear gradients.</p>\n<h4 id=\"zebra_striping\">Zebra striping</h4>\n<p>We wanted to dedicate a separate section to showing you how to implement <strong>zebra stripes</strong> — alternating rows of color that make the different data rows in your table easier to parse and read. Add the following CSS to the bottom of your <code>style.css</code> file:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>/* zebra striping */\n\ntbody tr:nth-child(odd) {\n background-color: #ff33cc;\n}\n\ntbody tr:nth-child(even) {\n background-color: #e495e4;\n}\n\ntbody tr {\n background-image: url(noise.png);\n}\n\ntable {\n background-color: #ff33cc;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<ul>\n <li>Earlier on you saw the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:nth-child\"><code>:nth-child</code></a> selector being used to select specific child elements. It can also be given a formula as a parameter, so it will select a sequence of elements. The formula <code>2n+1</code> would select all the odd numbered children (1, 3, 5, etc.) and the formula <code>2n</code> would select all the even numbered children (2, 4, 6, etc.) We've used the <code>odd</code> and <code>even</code> keywords in our code, which do exactly the same things as the aforementioned formulae. In this case we are giving the odd and even rows different (lurid) colors.</li>\n <li>We've also added a repeating background tile to all the body rows, which is just a bit of noise (a semi-transparent <code>.png</code> with a bit of visual distortion on it) to provide some texture.</li>\n <li>Lastly, we've given the entire table a solid background color so that browsers that don't support the <code>:nth-child</code> selector still have a background for their body rows.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>This color explosion results in the following look:</p>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-with-color.png\" alt=\"a well styled table with a repeating background in the body rows and the entire table a solid background to make the data showing a summary of Uk's famous punk bands more appealing\" width=\"723\" height=\"329\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>\n<p>Now, this may be a bit over the top and not to your taste, but the point we are trying to make here is that tables don't have to be boring and academic.</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"styling_the_caption","title":"Styling the caption","isH3":true,"content":"<p>There is one last thing to do with our table — style the caption. To do this, add the following to the bottom of your <code>style.css</code> file:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>/* caption */\n\ncaption {\n font-family: \"Rock Salt\", cursive;\n padding: 20px;\n font-style: italic;\n caption-side: bottom;\n color: #666;\n text-align: right;\n letter-spacing: 1px;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>There is nothing remarkable here, except for the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/caption-side\"><code>caption-side</code></a> property, which has been given a value of <code>bottom</code>. This causes the caption to be positioned on the bottom of the table, which along with the other declarations gives us this final look (see it live at <a href=\"https://mdn.github.io/learning-area/css/styling-boxes/styling-tables/punk-bands-complete.html\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">punk-bands-complete.html</a>):</p>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables/table-with-caption.png\" alt=\"a white background below the styled table containing a caption of what the table is about. "a summary of Uk's famous punk bands" in this case\" width=\"723\" height=\"357\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"table_styling_quick_tips","title":"Table styling quick tips","isH3":false,"content":"<p>Before moving on, we thought we'd provide you with a quick list of the most useful points illustrated above:</p>\n<ul>\n <li>Make your table markup as simple as possible, and keep things flexible, e.g. by using percentages, so the design is more responsive.</li>\n <li>Use <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/table-layout\"><code>table-layout: fixed</code></a> to create a more predictable table layout that allows you to easily set column widths by setting <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/width\"><code>width</code></a> on their headings (<a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th\"><code><th></code></a>).</li>\n <li>Use <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/border-collapse\"><code>border-collapse: collapse</code></a> to make table elements borders collapse into each other, producing a neater and easier to control look.</li>\n <li>Use <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/thead\"><code><thead></code></a>, <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tbody\"><code><tbody></code></a>, and <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/tfoot\"><code><tfoot></code></a> to break up your table into logical chunks and provide extra places to apply CSS to, so it is easier to layer styles on top of one another if required.</li>\n <li>Use zebra striping to make alternative rows easier to read.</li>\n <li>Use <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/text-align\"><code>text-align</code></a> to line up your <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/th\"><code><th></code></a> and <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/td\"><code><td></code></a> text, to make things neater and easier to follow.</li>\n</ul>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"test_your_skills!","title":"Test your skills!","isH3":false,"content":"<p>You've reached the end of this article, but can you remember the most important information? You can find some further tests to verify that you've retained this information before you move on — see <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Tables_tasks\">Test your skills: Tables</a>.</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"summary","title":"Summary","isH3":false,"content":"<p>With styling tables now behind us, we need something else to occupy our time. The next article explores <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Debugging_CSS\">debugging CSS</a> — how to solve problems such as layouts not looking like they should, or properties not applying when you think they should. This includes information on using browser DevTools to find solutions to your problems.</p><ul class=\"prev-next\">\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Images_media_form_elements\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Previous </span></a></li>\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Overview: CSS building blocks</span></a></li>\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Advanced_styling_effects\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Next </span></a></li>\n</ul>"}}],"toc":[{"text":"A typical HTML table","id":"a_typical_html_table"},{"text":"Styling our table","id":"styling_our_table"},{"text":"Table styling quick tips","id":"table_styling_quick_tips"},{"text":"Test your skills!","id":"test_your_skills!"},{"text":"Summary","id":"summary"}],"summary":"With styling tables now behind us, we need something else to occupy our time. The next article explores debugging CSS — how to solve problems such as layouts not looking like they should, or properties not applying when you think they should. This includes information on using browser DevTools to find solutions to your problems.","popularity":0.0137,"modified":"2024-08-12T06:55:47.000Z","other_translations":[{"locale":"de","title":"Tabellen stylen","native":"Deutsch"},{"locale":"es","title":"Estilizando tablas","native":"Español"},{"locale":"fr","title":"Mise en forme des tableaux","native":"Français"},{"locale":"ja","title":"表のスタイル設定","native":"日本語"},{"locale":"ko","title":"표 스타일링","native":"한국어"},{"locale":"ru","title":"Стилизация таблиц","native":"Русский"},{"locale":"zh-CN","title":"样式化表格","native":"中文 (简体)"}],"pageType":"learn-module-chapter","source":{"folder":"en-us/learn/css/building_blocks/styling_tables","github_url":"https://github.com/mdn/content/blob/main/files/en-us/learn/css/building_blocks/styling_tables/index.md","last_commit_url":"https://github.com/mdn/content/commit/75326725db2daa924618e58ae31a43345c7a16dc","filename":"index.md"},"short_title":"Styling tables","parents":[{"uri":"/en-US/docs/Learn","title":"Guides"},{"uri":"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS","title":"CSS"},{"uri":"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks","title":"CSS building blocks"},{"uri":"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables","title":"Styling tables"}],"pageTitle":"Styling tables - Learn web development | MDN","noIndexing":false}}</script></body></html>