View source for Wiki143:Manual of Style/Tables

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{{hatnote|This page discusses when and how tables should be used on Wikipedia. For specific considerations of table style and accessibility, see [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Accessibility/Data tables tutorial]]. For technical guidance on how to create and edit tables, see [[Help:Table]].}}
{{style-guideline|MOS:TABLES|MOS:TABLE}}
{{Style}} 

Tables are a way of presenting information into rows and columns. Tables can be useful for various types of content on Wikipedia, but they should only be used when appropriate. In some cases, the information might be better conveyed in [[Wikipedia:Prose|prose]] or as [[Wikipedia:Embedded lists|embedded lists]]. Overusing tables, especially with complex coding, can make pages harder to edit and maintain, so careful consideration should be given to their structure.

Maintain [[MOS:Accessibility|accessibility]] when creating tables by using [[Mw:Help:Tables|specific table tags]] to help users navigate the data and [[Wikipedia:Captions|captions]] to clearly identify and describe tables. Avoid relying solely on formatting (e.g., background color changes) to convey meaning. Additionally, do not refer to tables in body text as being positioned on the left or right side of a page. Content placement varies between [[Wikipedia:Mobile|mobile]] and [[Wikipedia:Desktop|desktop views]], making such descriptions meaningless for users relying on assistive tools like screen readers.

== Formatting ==
{{main|Help:Table}}
{{shortcut|WP:WIKITABLE}}
It is recommended that [[Help:Wikitable|wikitables]] be used in place of [[HTML table]]s, as they are easier to customize and maintain. A standard wikitable style is available by adding <code>class="wikitable"</code> to the table. A [[Help:Sortable tables|sorting]] feature can be enabled by adding <code>class="sortable"</code> to the table. To use both classes, combine them as <code>class="wikitable sortable"</code>.

=== Captions and headers ===
{{redirect|WP:HEADERS|section headings|MOS:HEAD}}
{{shortcut|WP:HEADERS}}
[[Help:Table caption|Table captions]] and column and row headers should be succinct and self explanatory and used on all data tables. In most cases, individual words or [[sentence fragment]]s should be used, and thus [[Article (grammar)|article]]s (''a'', ''an'', ''the'') and sentence-ending punctuation are unnecessary. Only the first word in the caption or header should be capitalized (except for [[proper noun]]s), in keeping with Wikipedia's conventions for [[MOS:CAP|capital letters]]. In some rare cases, judicious use of [[soft hyphen]]s may be helpful {{crossref|(see {{section link|WP:Manual of Style#Hyphens}} for details)}}.

Much of {{section link|WP:Manual of Style|Article titles, headings, and sections}} also pertains to table headers: Use [[sentence case]]; avoid redundantly including the subject's name in a header; do not put images in the header (including flag icons), unless this is the best way to present tabular information in a particular case; and do not use questions as headers. Title headers are often suitable places for reference citations (e.g., to source a specific row or column of data). Unlike section headings, they often begin with or consist entirely of numbers (such as model numbers, dates, version numbers, etc.). Table headers do not automatically generate link anchors the way section headings do; use the {{tlx|vanchor}} template to turn a header's text (or part of it) into an anchor.

===Appearance===
{{anchor|TABLELEFT}}{{shortcut|MOS:TABLELEFT}}
In general, styles for tables and other block-level elements should be set using CSS classes, not with inline style attributes. This is because the site-wide CSS is more carefully tested to ensure compatibility with a wide range of browsers; it also creates a greater degree of professionalism by ensuring a consistent appearance between articles.  Deviations from standard conventions are acceptable where they create a semantic distinction (for instance, the infoboxes and [[Template:The Simpsons|navigational templates]] relating to ''[[The Simpsons]]'' formerly used a yellow color-scheme instead of the customary mauve, to tie in with the dominant color in the series) but should not be used gratuitously.

See [[WP:Deviations]] and [[Wikipedia talk:Consensus/RfC]] for guidance on use of coloring or non-standard formatting, and for when MoS and WikiProjects guidance is at variance. 

Consideration may be given to [[Help:Collapsing|collapsing]] tables which [[MOS:COLLAPSE|consolidate information covered in the prose]].

Wikipedia tables are set flush-left, and allowed to grow rightward, not centered on the page.

===Accessibility===
{{Main|Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Accessibility/Data tables tutorial}}
{{Further|Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Accessibility#Tables}}

Maintain [[MOS:Accessibility|accessibility]] when creating tables. Screen readers and other assistive web browsing tools that are used for accessibility make use of specific table tags to help users navigate the data contained within tables.

Use these specific table tags and the correct [[wikitable]] syntax or [[Wikipedia:Wikitext|wikitext]] to take advantage of all the features available. (See [[mw:Help:Tables]] and [[Help:Tables]] for more information on the syntax used for tables). Use [[Wikipedia:Captions|captions]] to clearly identify and describe tables. Do not rely solely on formatting, either from CSS or hard-coded styles, (e.g., background color changes) to convey meaning. Additionally, do not refer to tables in body text as being positioned on the left or right side of a page. Content placement varies between [[Wikipedia:Mobile|mobile]] and [[Wikipedia:Desktop|desktop views]], making such descriptions meaningless for users relying on assistive tools like screen readers.

Avoid using {{tag|br|s}} or {{tag|hr|s}} tags in adjacent cells to create a visual row that is not reflected in the HTML table structure. This method can cause issues for screen readers, which read tables cell by cell and row by row in the HTML, not based on visual rows. Additionally, unordered (bulleted), ordered (numbered) and [[Wikipedia:Description list|description lists]] [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Accessibility#Lists|should not have blank lines or newlines between them]]. The [[:Category:List templates|list templates]] explicitly identify lists for readers, ensuring that the structure is understood, rather than relying on visual formatting to imply the presence of a list.

See [[MOS:COLOR]] and [[Help:Using colours]] for information about restrained use of color in tables, to avoid creating accessibility problems for [[Color blindness|color-blind]] as well as normal-vision readers.

===Size===
{{anchor|TABLESPLIT}}{{shortcut|MOS:TABLESPLIT}}

Splitting lists and tables per [[WP:Summary style|summary style]] is [[WP:SPLITLIST|advised against]]. Among other problems, arbitrarily splitting a wikitable effectively disables the powerful and useful sorting feature from working across the entire table.

On the other hand, overloading tables with too much detailed statistical data is [[WP:NOT#STATS|against policy]].  Careful thought should be given to how a reader would use a table, and what level of detail is appropriate.

For very long tables, manageability and maintenance of the page may be better served by breaking information up into several smaller tables instead of one extremely long one. For example, a literary or film award that has been presented for several decades may be better presented through a separate table for each decade rather than one long mega-table, because one long unified table may be much more difficult for future users to edit or update properly.

===Sortability===
While tables can be made sortable so that they can be rearranged to display the entries in different sort orders, there is no rule that tables must always be sortable in all cases—sortable tables are useful in some instances and not in others. In some tables, for example, the order of display may itself be important information in its own right, such that a reader would not benefit from resorting the table on another column to alter the display order, and in some tables there may sometimes be features or undetected coding errors that actively break sortability.

The various adjustments that may need to be made to the table's content, such as using special {{tlx|sort}} or {{tlx|sortname}} templates to impose an alternate sort order, may also create excessive complication in the table coding which can make it much harder to edit with any new information. If there's a column for individual people's names, for example, then consistent use of sortname templates will be necessary across the board in that column to ensure that the entries sort correctly by surname. Accordingly, if such special code will be necessary, then carefully consider whether there's actually any reader benefit to making the table sortable on alternate criteria at all before forcing sortability.

Where sortability is desired, ensure that the sort system is transparent and straightforward. Do not, for instance, use sequential numbers to enumerate a desired sort order on a column whose content is not actually numbers, such that an editor would have to manually renumber the entire table every time there's a new entry to add to it.

In some tables, it may also be beneficial to make some columns sortable and other columns not sortable at the same time; for instance, if the table directly contains a dedicated "References" column for the footnotes, it is virtually never useful for that column to be directly sortable. Per [[Help:Sortable tables]], this is done by creating a sortable table, but adding <code>class="unsortable"</code> to the header attributes of the column where sortability is not desired.

===Explanatory notes and legends===
{{shortcut|MOS:LEGEND|MOS:TABLEKEY}}

For the accessibility reasons stated in [[WP:COLOR]], information should not be communicated by the use of color alone. Instead, color should reinforce information also presented through other means, such as being indicated by an [[asterisk]] ({{xt|*}}), a [[dagger (typography)|dagger]] ({{xt|† ‡}}), or another [[Note (typography)|typographical symbol]] accessible to those using screen readers. If there is adequate space, and doing so would not lead to excessive repetition, one should consider making information explicit by writing it out in the table row, possibly in a "Notes" column.{{discuss}} 

Any use of color coding, typographical symbols, or uncommon abbreviations should be explained in a legend (also called a "key") accompanying the table. Put the legend immediately before the table so that readers, especially those using [[screen readers]], will be aware of the meanings before encountering them in the table itself. The same or similar legend may be repeated for multiple tables within the same article, especially if the tables are in different sections, as any given section may be skipped by a reader.{{discuss}}

[[Help:Footnotes|Footnotes]] for citations are treated the same way in tables as they are in prose. [[Help:Explanatory notes|Explanatory footnotes]] may appear in the end matter of an article as they do with prose, or they may be displayed directly after the table they are used in, often using a [[WP:REFGROUP|group]]. They should not appear inside the table itself, especially if it breaks the [[Help:Sortable tables|sorting order of columns]].

== {{anchor|Appropriate}}Appropriate use ==
{{shortcut|WP:WHENTABLE}}
Tables are a way of presenting links, data, or information in rows and columns. They are a complex form of list, formatted into a systematic grid pattern. Tables might be useful for presenting mathematical data such as multiplication tables, comparative figures, or sporting results. They may also be useful for presenting equivalent words in two or more languages; for awards by type and year; complex discographies; etc.

The sortability of multiple columns in a table is a powerful tool that helps the reader to understand relationships and find patterns in large lists. The sortability of tables makes them very useful for "List of..." articles in Wikipedia, which are intended to give an overview of the subject area, and to allow easy comparisons among many similar items. Avoid cramming too much detailed information into individual table entries; if appropriate, the reader should be able to click a Wikilink to read a full, detailed article corresponding to a concise table entry.

Often a list is best left as a list. Before reformatting a list into table form, consider whether the information will be more clearly conveyed by virtue of having rows and columns. If so, then a table is probably a good choice. If there is no obvious benefit to having rows and columns, then a table is probably not the best choice.

Tables should not be misused to resolve visual layout problems. If the information you are editing is not tabular in nature, it probably does not belong in a table: Do not misuse tables for putting a caption under a photograph, arranging a group of links, or other strictly visual features. These practices make the article harder for other Wikipedians to edit, and will likely cause problems when viewed on different display sizes and aspect ratios. Also, when compared with tables, wikimarkup is more flexible, easier to use, and less arcane when used correctly for desktop publishing layout, page elements, and page orientation and positioning.

Examples:
==== Multi-column sortable standard ====
{{Collapse top|Sporting results}}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" width="30" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope="col" width="50" | Year
! scope="col" width="250" | Championship
! scope="col" width="200" | Opponent in the final
! scope="col" align="center" width="100" | Score
! scope="col" width="80" | Outcome
! scope="col" width="30" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 1
| align=center | [[1981 World Snooker Championship|1981]]
| [[World Snooker Championship]]
| {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Doug Mountjoy]]
| align="center" | 18–12
| {{win}}
| align="center" | <ref name="Turner WSC">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=World Professional Championship|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/world.html|work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|accessdate=18 March 2011}}</ref> 
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 2
| align=center | [[1983 World Snooker Championship|1983]]
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(2)</small>
| {{Flagicon|CAN}} [[Cliff Thorburn]]
| align="center" | 18–6
| {{win}}
| align="center" | <ref name="Turner WSC"/>
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 3
| align=center | 1983
| [[Players Championship (snooker)|International Open]]
| {{Flagicon|CAN}} [[Cliff Thorburn]]
| align="center" | 9–3
| {{win}}
| align="center" | <ref name="Turner Int' Open">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=International Open Goya, Matchroom Trophy|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/int.html|work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|accessdate=18 March 2011}}</ref> 
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 4
| align=center | 1984
| [[Classic (snooker)|Classic]]
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Tony Meo]]
| align="center" | 9–8
| {{win}}
| align="center" | <ref name="Turner Classic">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Classic|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/classic.html|work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|accessdate=18 March 2011}}</ref> 
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 5
| align=center | [[1984 World Snooker Championship|1984]]
| [[World Snooker Championship]] <small>(3)</small>
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Jimmy White]]
| align="center" | 18–16
| {{win}}
| align="center" | <ref name="Turner WSC"/>
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 6
| align=center | 1984
| [[Players Championship (snooker)|International Open]] <small>(2)</small>
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Tony Knowles (snooker player)|Tony Knowles]]
| align="center" | 9–2
| {{win}}
| align="center" | <ref name="Turner Int' Open"/>
|-bgcolor="dfe2e9"
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 7
| align=center | [[1984 UK Championship|1984]]
| [[UK Championship|UK Championship]]
| {{Flagicon|NIR}} [[Alex Higgins]]
| align="center" | 16–8
| {{win}}
| align="center" | <ref name="Turner UK">{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=UK Championship|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/uk.html|work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|accessdate=18 March 2011}}</ref> 
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 8
| align=center | [[1985 World Snooker Championship|1985]]
| [[World Snooker Championship]]
| {{Flagicon|NIR}} [[Dennis Taylor]]
| align="center" | [[1985 World Snooker Championship final|17–18]]
| {{runner-up}}
| align="center" | <ref name="Turner WSC"/>
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 9
| align=center | [[1985 Grand Prix (snooker)|1985]]
| [[World Open (snooker)|Grand Prix]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Dennis Taylor]]
| align="center" | 10–9
| {{win}}
| align="center" | <ref name="Turner WSC"/>
|-bgcolor="dfe2e9"
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 10
| align=center | [[1985 UK Championship|1985]]
| [[UK Championship|UK Championship]] <small>(2)</small>
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Willie Thorne]]
| align="center"| 16–14
| {{win}}
| align="center"| <ref name="Turner UK"/>
|}

{{Collapse bottom}}

==== Multi-column standard with subcolumns ====
{{cot|Discographies}}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;font-size: 9pt"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" width="210" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Release date
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Label

! scope="col" colspan="10" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" colspan="2" | [[Music recording certification|Certifications]]
|-
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Canada|CAN]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Australia|AUS]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Austria|AUT]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Germany|GER]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Netherlands|NLD]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Norway|NOR]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Sweden|SWE]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Switzerland|SWI]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Billboard 200|US]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[North America]]
! scope="col" width="30" | [[Europe]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1993
| ''[[So Far So Good (Bryan Adams album)|So Far So Good]]''
| November 2, 1993
| A&M
| align="center"| 2<br><ref name="So far so good">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2353&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=1eslr84up6jai4j6cngk0p4cu2|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 58, No. 25 | date = January 10, 1994| publisher = [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] ([[Library and Archives Canada]]) | accessdate = August 15, 2010}}</ref>
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 6
| align="left"   | CA:&nbsp;6×&nbsp;Platinum<br>US:&nbsp;5×&nbsp;Platinum
| align="left"   | SW:&nbsp;4×&nbsp;Platinum<br>UK:&nbsp;3×&nbsp;Platinum
|-
! scope="row" | 1999
| ''[[The Best of Me (Bryan Adams album)|The Best of Me]]''
| November 15, 1999
| A&M
| align="center" | 14
| align="center" | 18
| align="center" | 4
| align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 13
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 20
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 12
| align="center" | —
| align="left"   | CA:&nbsp;3×&nbsp;Platinum
| align="left"   | EU:&nbsp;2×&nbsp;Platinum<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2002.html | title = IFPI Platinum Europe Awards: 2002 Awards | publisher = [[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) – Europe]] | accessdate=August 15, 2010 }}</ref><br>SW: Platinum<br>UK: Platinum
|-
! scope="row" | 2005
| ''[[Anthology (Bryan Adams album)|Anthology]]''
| October 18, 2005
| A&M
| align="center"| 4
| align="center"| —
| align="center"| 28
| align="center"| 30
| align="center"| —
| align="center"| —
| align="center"| —
| align="center"| 39
| align="center"| 29
| align="center"| 65
| align="left"  | CA: 2×&nbsp;Platinum
| align="left"  | UK: Gold
|-
! scope="row" | 2010
| ''[[Icon (Bryan Adams album)|Icon]]''
| August 31, 2010
| [[Universal Music Group|Universal]]
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="left"   |
| align="left"   |
|-
|align="center" colspan="30" style="font-size: 8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
|}
{{cob}}

==== Multi-column mixed sortable unsortable ====
{{cot|Filmographies}}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of acting performances in film and television
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1961
| ''[[Barabbas (1961 film)|Barabbas]]''
| Patrician in Arena
| Film; uncredited
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1963
| ''{{sortname|The|Beverly Hillbillies}}''
| Janet Trego
| TV series, recurring role, 15 episodes
|-
! scope="row"  style=text-align:center | 1963
| ''[[Mister Ed]]''
| Telephone Operator / Sailor's Girl
| TV series, episodes: "Love Thy New Neighbor", "Ed Discovers America"
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1964
| ''{{sortname|The|Americanization of Emily}}''
| Beautiful Girl
| Film; uncredited
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1965
| ''{{sortname|The|Man from U.N.C.L.E.}}''
| Therapist
| TV series, episode: "The Girls of Nazarone Affair"
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1966
| ''[[Eye of the Devil]]''
| Odile de Caray
| Film
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1967
| ''{{sortname|The|Fearless Vampire Killers}}''
| Sarah Shagal
| Film
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1967
| ''[[Don't Make Waves]]''
| Malibu
| Film
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1967
| ''[[Valley of the Dolls (film)|Valley of the Dolls]]''
| Jennifer North
| Film
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1968
| ''[[Rosemary's Baby (film)|Rosemary's Baby]]''
| Girl at Party
| Film; uncredited
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:center | 1968
| ''{{sortname|The|Wrecking Crew|The Wrecking Crew (1969 film)}}''
| Freya Carlson
| Film
|-
! scope="row"  style=text-align:center | 1969
| ''{{sortname|The|Thirteen Chairs}}''
| Pat
| Film; also known as ''12+1''; released posthumously
|}
{{cob}}

==== Multi-column unsortable ====
{{cot|Academy Awards}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Result
|-
! scope="row" | [[5th Academy Awards|1932]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Outstanding Production]]
| ''[[Arrowsmith (film)|Arrowsmith]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[8th Academy Awards|1935]]
|   [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Outstanding Production]]
| ''[[The Informer (1935 film)|The Informer]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[8th Academy Awards|1935]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| ''[[The Informer (1935 film)|The Informer]]''
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[12th Academy Awards|1939]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| ''[[Stagecoach (1939 film)|Stagecoach]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[13th Academy Awards|1940]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Outstanding Production]]
| ''[[The Long Voyage Home]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[13th Academy Awards|1940]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| ''[[The Grapes of Wrath (film)|The Grapes of Wrath]]''
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[14th Academy Awards|1941]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Motion Picture]]
| ''[[How Green Was My Valley (film)|How Green Was My Valley]]''
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[14th Academy Awards|1941]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| ''[[How Green Was My Valley (film)|How Green Was My Valley]]''
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[15th Academy Awards|1942]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature|Best Documentary]]
| ''[[The Battle of Midway (film)|The Battle of Midway]]''
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[16th Academy Awards|1943]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject)|Best Documentary, Short Subjects]]
| ''[[December 7th: The Movie]]''
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[25th Academy Awards|1952]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Motion Picture]]
| ''[[The Quiet Man]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[25th Academy Awards|1952]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| ''[[The Quiet Man]]''
| {{won}}
|}
{{cob}}

==== Multi-column unsortable all numeric right justified====
{{cot|Mathematical tables}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|+ Multiplication table
! ×
! scope="col" style=text-align:right | 1 || style=text-align:right | 2 || style=text-align:right | 3 || style=text-align:right | 4 || style=text-align:right | 5 || style=text-align:right | 6 || style=text-align:right | 7 || style=text-align:right | 8 || style=text-align:right | 9 || style=text-align:right | 10  
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 1
| 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10  
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 2
| 2 || 4 ||6 || 8 || 10 || 12 || 14 || 16 || 18 || 20  
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 3
| 3 || 6 || 9 || 12 || 15 || 18 || 21 || 24 || 27 || 30  
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 4
| 4 || 8 || 12 || 16 || 20 || 24 || 28 || 32 || 36 || 40  
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 5
| 5 || 10 || 15 || 20 || 25 || 30 || 35 || 40 || 45 || 50  
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 6
| 6 || 12 || 18 || 24 || 30 || 36 || 42 || 48 || 54 || 60 
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 7
| 7 || 14 || 21 || 28 || 35 || 42 || 49 || 56 || 63 || 70  
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 8
| 8 || 16 || 24 || 32 || 40 || 48 || 56 || 64 || 72 || 80  
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 9
| 9 || 18 || 27 || 36 || 45 || 54 || 63 || 72 || 81 || 90  
|-
! scope="row" style=text-align:right | 10
| 10 || 20 || 30 || 40 || 50 || 60 || 70 || 80 || 90 || 100 
|}
{{cob}}

==== Tree (cladogram) left rooted====
{{cot|[[Cladogram]]s}}
{{clade| style=font-size:90%;line-height:85%
|label1=&nbsp;[[Crocodylinae]]&nbsp;
  |1={{clade
                        |1=''[["Crocodylus" megarhinus]]''
                        |label2=&nbsp;[[Mekosuchinae]]&nbsp;
                        |2={{clade
                           |1=''[[Kambara]]''
                           |2=''[[Australosuchus]]''
                           |3=''[[Trilophosuchus]]''}}
                        |3={{clade
                           |label1=&nbsp;[[Osteolaeminae]]&nbsp;
                           |1={{clade
                              |1={{clade
                                 |1=''[[Rimasuchus]]''
                                 |2={{clade
                                    |1=''[["Crocodylus" pigotti]]''
                                    |2=''[[Euthecodon]]''}}}}
                              |2=''[[Voay]]''
                              |3={{clade
                                 |1=''[[Osteolaemus|Osteolaemus osborni]]''
                                 |2=''[[Osteolaemus|O. tetraspis]]''}}}}
                           |2={{clade
                              |1=''[[Mecistops]]''
                              |2={{clade
                                 |1=''[[Crocodylus anthropophagus]]''
                                 |2=''[[Crocodylus|C. palaeindicus]]''
                                 |3={{clade
                                    |1=''[[Mugger Crocodile|C. palustris]]''
                                    |2={{clade
                                       |1=''[[Siamese Crocodile|C. siamensis]]''
                                       |2={{clade
                                          |1=''[[Freshwater Crocodile|C. johnsoni]]''
                                          |2=''[[New Guinea Crocodile|C. novaeguineae]]''
                                          |3=''[[Philippine Crocodile|C. mindorensis]]''}}}}}}
                                 |4={{clade
                                    |1=''[[Nile Crocodile|C. niloticus]]''
                                    |2={{clade
                                       |1=''[[American Crocodile|C. acutus]]''
                                       |2=''[[Orinoco Crocodile|C. intermedius]]''
                                       |3=''[[Cuban Crocodile|C. rhombifer]]''
                                       |4=''[[Morelet's Crocodile|C. moreletii]]''

}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
{{cob}}

====Gantt (bar graph linear horizontal) with color====
{{cot|Flow data}}
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:700 height:270
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:50
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat  = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1965 till:12/05/1996
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =
  id:Drums               value:purple     legend:Drums
  id:Guitars             value:green      legend:Guitars
  id:Bass                value:gray(0.40) legend:Bass
  id:Keyboards          value:orange     legend:Keyboards
  

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:01/01/1965

LineData =

  at:08/04/1967 color:black layer:back
  at:06/28/1968 color:black layer:back
  at:06/13/1969 color:black layer:back
  at:11/07/1969 color:black layer:back
  at:10/02/1970 color:black layer:back
  at:11/05/1971 color:black layer:back
  at:06/02/1972 color:black layer:back
  at:03/23/1973 color:black layer:back
  at:11/12/1975 color:black layer:back
  at:01/21/1977 color:black layer:back
  at:11/30/1979 color:black layer:back
  at:03/21/1983 color:black layer:back
  at:11/07/1987 color:black layer:back
  at:03/28/1994 color:black layer:back

BarData =

  bar:Mason text:"Nick Mason"
  bar:Barrett text:"Syd Barrett"
  bar:Gilmour text:"David Gilmour"
  bar:Klose  text:"Bob Klose"
  bar:Waters text:"Roger Waters"
  bar:Wright text:"Richard Wright"

PlotData=

  width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  bar:Mason from:01/01/1965 till:end color:Drums
  bar:Barrett from:01/01/1965 till:06/04/1968 color:Guitars
  bar:Gilmour from:12/01/1967 till:end color:Guitars
  bar:Klose from:01/01/1965 till: 12/05/1965 color:Guitars
  bar:Waters from:01/01/1965 till:01/20/1985 color:Bass
  bar:Wright from:01/01/1965 till:01/01/1980 color:Keyboards
  bar:Wright from:01/01/1987 till:end color:Keyboards

 </timeline>
{{cob}}

== Inappropriate use ==
{{shortcut|MOS:NO-TABLES|WP:NO-TABLES}}
==== Simple lists ====
If a list is simple, it is generally better to use one of the standard [[Wikipedia:Lists|Wikipedia list formats]] instead of a table. Lists are easier to maintain than tables, and are often easier to read.

Here is an example of a simple list using list formatting:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">* 1980: ''Ultra Wave''
* 1988: ''What's Bootsy Doin'?''
* 1994: ''Blasters of the Universe''
* 1994: ''Fresh Outta 'P' Uni''</syntaxhighlight>

Which produces:

* 1980: ''Ultra Wave''
* 1988: ''What's Bootsy Doin'?''
* 1994: ''Blasters of the Universe''
* 1994: ''Fresh Outta 'P' Uni''

versus table formatting:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">{|
| 1980
| ''Ultra Wave''
|-
| 1988
|'' What's Bootsy Doin'?''
|-
| 1994
| ''Blasters of the Universe''
|-
| 1994
| ''Fresh Outta 'P' Uni''
|}</syntaxhighlight>

Which produces:

{|class="wikitable"
| 1980
| ''Ultra Wave''
|-
| 1988
| ''What's Bootsy Doin'?''
|-
| 1994
| ''Blasters of the Universe''
|-
| 1994
| ''Fresh Outta 'P' Uni''
|}

==== Prose ====
Prose is preferred in articles as prose allows the presentation of detail and clarification of context, in a way that a table may not.  Prose flows, like one person speaking to another, and is best suited to articles, because their purpose is to explain.  Tables which are mainly [[Wikipedia:Linking|links]], which are most useful for browsing subject areas, should usually have their own entries: see  [[Wikipedia:Stand-alone lists]] for detail. In an article, significant items should normally be mentioned naturally within the text rather than merely tabulated.

==== Page layout ==== 
Page layouts (using multiple columns, positioning elements, adding borders, etc.) should be done via [[Cascading Style Sheets|CSS]], not tables, whenever possible.

* Images and other embedded media should be positioned using [[WP:EIS|standard image syntax]].
* There are several templates available that will create preformatted multi-column layouts: see [[Help:Columns]].
* Other elements can be positioned or given special formatting through the use of the HTML <code>[[span and div|&lt;div>]]</code> element and [[Help:Cascading style sheets#CSS in wikitext|CSS styling]].

==== Infoboxes and navigation templates ====
Do not use table code directly to make an [[Help:Infobox|infobox]] or [[WP:NAVBOX|navigation template]] (a navbox or sidebar). Use an appropriate template, e.g. {{tl|Infobox}}, {{tl|Infobox3cols}}, {{tl|Navbox}}, {{tl|Navbox with collapsible groups}}, {{tl|Sidebar}} or {{tl|Sidebar with collapsible lists}}. [[Wikipedia:List of infoboxes]] has numerous subject-specific infoboxes for use in articles.

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Table dos and don'ts]], a summary of the key points in this guideline
* [[Help:Table]], extensive help
* [[Help:Table/Introduction to tables]], a quick guide to using tables
* [[Help:Collapsing]] (show/hide button)
* [[Wikipedia:Conditional tables]]
* {{section link|HTML element|Tables}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Style wide}}

[[Category:Wikipedia Manual of Style (layout)]]
[[Category:Wikipedia tables]]

[[bs:Wikipedia:Tabele]]
[[bg:Уикипедия:Наръчник/Таблици]]
[[cs:Wikipedie:Tabulky]]
[[de:Wikipedia:Tabellen]]
[[es:Wikipedia:Sintaxis de tablas]]
[[eo:Vikipedio:Vikitabeloj]]
[[fr:Aide:Tableau]]
[[gl:Wikipedia:Como facer táboas]]
[[it:Aiuto:Come usare le tabelle]]
[[lt:Wikipedia:Lentelė]]
[[hu:Wikipédia:Hogyan használd a táblázatokat?]]
[[pt:Wikipedia:Como usar tabelas]]
[[ro:Wikipedia:Folosirea tabelelor]]
[[ru:Википедия:Как делать таблицы]]
[[sv:Wikipedia:Tabeller]]
[[ta:விக்கிப்பீடியா:அட்டவணைப்படுத்துதல்]]
[[uk:Довідка:Таблиці]]
[[vi:Wikipedia:Cẩm nang về cách biên soạn]]