Tabelle

Tabelle is a German term for a tabular arrangement of information, organized in rows and columns. In everyday usage it describes a structured presentation of data where each cell contains a data item, and the columns and rows are typically labeled with headers. Tabellen are used to enable quick comparison, sorting, and analysis of numbers, text, or other data.

Tables have various forms and purposes. They can present numerical data, statistical results, experimental measurements, schedules, or lists. In formal contexts, a table usually includes column headings, row labels, and notes or a caption that explains the data. In larger documents, tables may be generated automatically from datasets or kept manually for readability.

In computing and information technology, a table commonly refers to a data object in relational databases and spreadsheets. In SQL-based systems a table is a collection of rows and columns, and operations such as querying, sorting, and joining are performed on tables. Web technologies support tables in HTML, and many data formats such as CSV and TSV represent tabular data, which can be imported into databases or spreadsheets for processing.

Etymology and usage notes: The German word Tabelle derives from the Latin tabula, via Middle High German tavella, meaning a board or sheet. The feminine noun is die Tabelle, with plural Tabellen. Related terms include Tabellenkalkulation (spreadsheet) and Tabellenstruktur (table structure). In everyday language, Tabelle is a general term for any grid-like display of data or a schedule in a tabular form.