Or, tell me again why I want to do this?

Okay, tables are, I suppose, a neccessary evil when it comes to creating web pages. Originally intended as a method to present tabular data (rows and columns of words and/or numbers) they have, over time, been perverted into a method to control how (and where) the browser displayed all the data on the page.

Tables have their own unique set of terms that make them, well... tables. Follow along and I'll see if I can't thoroughly confuse you....

The pieces parts. The minimum tags required to make a table:

1. The <table></table> tags start and end the table, respectively.
2. Row tags, <tr></tr> define the rows that contain
3. the table cells, <td></td>, where the data resides within the table.

NOTE: Actually, the closing tags for cells and rows are optional under the HTML specifications. Now commit the following to memory- Always, and I mean ALWAYS close every table structure tag you open. Every <td>, <tr>, and <table> must have a corresponding closing tag or there's a good chance that your table (and possibly the entire page) won't display in some browsers, or displays with unpredictable results.

"Wait a minute" you say, "what about the columns?" Patience Grasshopper, we'll get there. A good question, though there is no answer. Just kidding... there is, but these are the basic building blocks of a table. We'll get to the exotic stuff later.

Here you are, a table, in all its glory:

Now let's go figure out how to create this monster we know as... table.

Feel the need to communicate with His Grand & Exalted Bimjoness hisself?? Well, here's where ya do it! Don't be shy. If you have something you'd like to see here, just let me know and I'll see what I can do about getting it on here.