To layout the page structure and content, web pages were built using HTML. Tables were cell based similar to MS Excel and Word. With the advancement of web technology, tables have become obsolete in this new era of design. We draw tables whenever there is a need to display data, but we fail to understand the extent of annoyance tables create for the browser and reader. It is always advisable to not use tables as:

• Erroneous – Tables gained popularity with HTML command – border=”0″ in the nineties. Though tables were never supposed to be a part of the layout but they still managed to survive.
• Inconvenience & Inconsistency – Internet serves as the ideal medium for exchange of information. Any layout consisting table doesn’t allow easy accessibility. The table based content is not comfortably read by the screen reader, thus causing greater extent of inconvenience for the user. Any inconsistency in the flow of the content on the webpage disrupts the visual uniformity.
• Large file size – the presentational data is mixed with the content and therefore increasing the file size unnecessarily.
• Low Loading speed – The fast lives of people demand faster speed, but the tables ruin the loading time of the content. It becomes more difficult for users using mobiles or PDAs for web access.
• Unfavourable for SEO – Tables are not SEO website friendly. Google is compatible with <div> and CSS layouts for the website. Tables create a hindrance while searching for the website making it difficult for the browser to optimize the website.
• Uncompetitive – the web standards are improving and these grids for the layouts and images were unable to cope up with the improving web compliance, therefore lacked in providing a competitive edge.
• Table-less CSS design layout was an ideal alternative in the modern web design world. Here are a few reasons why CSS tableless designs perform better than the standard page layout with tables.
• The web designers can exploit their creativity and make the designs more complex while designing the layout. However, the table based layouts restricted the designers to remain rigid and inflexible.
• The search engine rankings can improve with the CSS tableless design as the web page file size is smaller which reduces the code to conduct ratio. This allows the web spiders to crawl through the website easily and provide favourable rankings.
• The CSS style sheets help to maintain visual consistency while running through the complete website. Any change in the layout or style can be changed easily in the same CSS document and the changes are instantaneously reflected in all the pages.
• It is easier to update CSS based layout as it consumes less time.
• Executing a re-design for the website is faster and less expensive. When we remove the presentational mark-up from the webpages, re-designing becomes less intensive.
• The web designers can comfortably attach different stylesheets for different media types
• The website becomes higly accessible as the navigation is easier for the users when the website is in CSS tableless layout. Users with disabilities or people using mobiles or PDAs have easy access as there are no spacers to restrict the accessibility.

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