<table> Tag Syntax

<body>
   ...
   ... flow content expected ...
   <table>
      <tr>
         <td>...</td>
         ...
      </tr>
   </table>
   ...
</body>
Rules for coding the HTML table element

Make sure you understand the difference between a tag and element and are familiar with the definitions of namespace and other HTML terms.

  1. Code the table element where flow content is expected.
  2. Begin the table element with a starting <table> tag. The element name uses lower case letters and should be in the HTML namespace, which it will pick up automatically from the xmlns attribute on the <html> tag.
  3. Inside the table element, code the appropriate child elements described below.
  4. End the table element with a matching </table> closing tag.
Child Elements of the <table> tag

The HTML specifications require that the child elements be coded in the order shown by this ordered list:

1. an optional <caption> tag
to add a caption above the table
2. optional <colgroup> tags and/or <col/> tags
which define the table columns
3. an optional <thead> tag
for the table header, which is displayed at the top of the table and, when printed, may appear on each page containing any part of the table body
4. an optional <tfoot> tag
The single tfoot element, described below, can be coded either before or after the table body.
5. one or more <tr> tags either directly under the table element or inside a tbody element
for the rows in the body of the table
6. an optional <tfoot> tag
for the table footer, which is displayed at the bottom of the table and, when printed, may appear on each page containing any part of the table body