Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Tables

This guideline is a part of the English Wikipedia's Manual of Style. It is a generally accepted standard that editors should attempt to follow, though occasional exceptions may apply. Any substantive edit to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on the talk page.

Shortcuts MOS:TABLES MOS:TABLE

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 prose or as 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 accessibility when creating tables by using specific table tags to help users navigate the data and 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 mobile and desktop views, making such descriptions meaningless for users relying on assistive tools like screen readers.