tabelllayout

Tabellayout, or table layout, is a method of organizing content in web pages or documents by using HTML tables to position elements in rows and columns. The approach relies on table, tr, and td elements to control the placement and alignment of content, rather than using semantic structure alone.

In the early web, tabellayout was common because CSS layout capabilities were limited and inconsistent across browsers. Designers used nested tables and fixed widths to achieve complex page structures that would maintain alignment across different devices.

Technically, a tabellayout constructs a grid where each cell hosts content such as text, images, or other elements. Tables may be fixed or fluid in width, and often involve nested tables or spacer cells. Although it can produce precise visual results, it does not reflect the meaning of the content and can be less accessible to screen readers.

Advantages include predictable rendering in older browsers and straightforward implementation for simple layouts. Disadvantages include poor accessibility, difficulties with responsive design, increased markup size, and maintenance challenges. Because tables carry presentational meaning, this method is discouraged for layout in modern standards.

Today, CSS-based techniques such as Flexbox and CSS Grid are preferred for layout, while HTML tables remain appropriate for representing tabular data. Some legacy sites still use tabellayout, but it is generally considered obsolete for new projects.