Web Design without Tables

Posted by Erik M. Cunningham - October 24, 2006

I just picked up a great book on designing web sites without using tables titled, “HTML Utopia: Designing Without Tables Using CSS, 2nd Edition” by Rachel Andrew & Dan Shafer.

Why drop your dependable table structure in favor of CSS positioning?

1. Using CSS reduces the amount of code in your HTML pages and allows you to place your text content at the top of your source code. This helps search engines properly index your pages.
2. It makes your pages load faster by eliminating the need for invisible pixel spacer images and allowing web browsers to cache your style references.
3. It makes your code more friendly to web browsers with text-to-speech or other accessibility features.
4. The CSS approach allows for faster and easier site redesign than table structures by further separating your style from your text content.

If you’re not convinced, download a free preview from the book and try it out.

24 October 2006 | Web Design, Search Engine Optimization, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) | Comments