formatstable

Formatstable is a term used in data processing to describe a centralized repository or library for storing and applying formatting rules to tabular data. It represents formatting metadata for each column, including data type, locale, numeric style, date and time formats, units, alignment, and thousands separators. By separating formatting from data, formatstable enables consistent presentation across different output formats and interfaces.

The typical purpose is to ensure consistent rendering in reports, dashboards, exports, and user interfaces, support localization, and facilitate reusable styling across pipelines. A formatstable can be implemented as a database table, a configuration file, or a software library component, and may be serialized to JSON or YAML for portability. A renderer can consult the formatstable to format values when exporting to CSV, HTML, PDF, or displaying in a UI.

Core components often include a schema for format entries, a registry of formats, and renderers that apply the rules to data values. Common features include internationalization, precision control, and conditional formatting rules. Usage scenarios include business reporting, financial dashboards, and data interchange between systems.

Limitations include the need to maintain synchronization between data and formatting rules, which adds complexity, and potential performance considerations for large datasets. See also data formatting, localization, and data renderer.