Since the beginning of web development, they have been using data tables. It is one of the crucial components of web design.
Its structure hasn’t changed too much over the years. However, following recent changes, UX designers have made excellent improvements to the designs.
The only thing that remains the same is the table’s readability structure. To learn the best practices of data table design, one needs to understand the viewer’s needs and preferences.
Find out the following:
- The amount of information they would like to read
- Whether they want to compare products, services, or packages
- Would they want to go straight to the call-to-action section?
- Do they prefer to view the table in the Excel application?
Knowing the audience will help designers to present the data table in the best way. This article discusses the two sections of data tables and provides examples of each.
Table Visuals
Data tables have a purpose and should be free from clutter or distractions. When formatting the table, it is essential to prioritize readability.
How to Choose the Ideal Colors in Table UI Design
Never use too many colors in table UI design. Having too many can distract from the table’s real purpose.
They help viewers to learn about the products, services, or packages available. Use colors only for a specific reason.
For example, color can focus attention on the header. Or use it to highlight the negative and positive details in comparison.
One thing to remember is to never use a dark color. Darker shades can cover the message or make the details unclear.
For a darker shade without these risks, use dark gray for the fonts and light gray for borders.
Zebra striping is a popular strategy in table UI design. When employing this strategy, designers only use light shades and colors.
Colors should not be too dark or too bright, so it’s best to stick to lighter shades.
How to Choose the Right Size for the Table UI Design
To present the table well, designers must choose the best font and table size for the amount of information.
When the information is extensive, it can be challenging to fit the texts into the table. In this case, the designer can use smaller fonts and row heights.
If there is a lot of information but few items or rows, then make sure to set up generous row heights.
The table UI design should be easy to read and intuitive. Decreasing the row height also increases the items and number above the fold.
To make it shorter, follow the standard sizing:
Row Heights
- Condensed: 40px
- Regular: 48px
- Relaxed: 56px
How to Choose the Ideal Row Style for Table UI Design
Customizing the row style enhances readability and scannability. This allows readers to view the data in a convenient way.
There are several row styles to choose from to set up a table.
Free Form
This promotes a minimalist display of tables. It removes all the dividers to reduce the visual noise and other unnecessary clutter.
Zebra Stripes
With the right shades of colors, readers can keep their place while reading. Each row has different background colors.
Horizontal Lines
This row style only shows the horizontal lines. This reduces the visual noise and unnecessary clutter of a grid.
Grid
This combines both horizontal and vertical lines. It is the typical table structure seen on many websites created by top Chicago web design companies.
This row style provides separation between data points. The only disadvantage is that it can be distracting if it has too many details.
Tabular Numbers
When optimizing the table UI design, all the digits must have a balance or the same amount of space. That is called “tabular numbers.”
They are easy to compare, which makes them ideal for any type of website’s data table.
Ensure to format the date or digit to the same length. For example, use the dd/mm/yyyy instead of dd/m/yyyy.
Check that the values stay left-aligned by default. They should always display this way.
However, remember that the Percentage, Amount, and Date should be right-aligned.
Dividers
Dividers are essential to add extra clarity but are not always necessary.
If there are lots of columns or the details are getting too close to one another, use dividers. They will keep the data table clutter-free and clean.
To leave out the dividers, it’s possible to have smaller and less dynamic tables. A designer may choose to use them to make the table more attractive.
Typography
Choosing the right typography can make or break the data table UI design. Although it is not the main priority, the visual presentation can attract more visitors.
It’s not necessary to use super fancy typography to create an ideal data table. But there are specific rules that can help to make them decent-looking.
Still, matching the table graphics with the overall website graphics will ensure that it won’t pop up like an eye-sore, maintaining a consistent and pleasant look. Graphic design software can be of assistance.
Tips for Creating or Choosing a Typography Design
- Only use simple fonts.
- Don’t italicize or bold the texts.
- Don’t use Serif fonts.
- All caps are hard to read. Avoid using caps lock when writing your text.
Fill the Blank Spaces with a Marker
One thing to keep in mind is that there should not be blank spaces. If the data doesn’t apply to a particular cell, use a marker, like an icon, cross, or dashes.
Set a Fixed Row Height, but Make Sure Columns are Resizable
Fixed row height enables readers to view the data with ease. They don’t have to scroll up and down to find the missing information.
It’s also important to make the columns resizable. Nobody wants to create a new table because they need to add a few details or information.
The solution for this is to make the columns resizable.
The table UI design would look weird if it had too many rows and columns in different sizes. It would also look messy and disorganized.
Structured information allows readers to grasp what the website is all about.
Even with resizable columns, don’t put all the details in a single column. It only adds to the reader’s confusion.
Regardless of the content, all rows should have the same height. It helps to make the details more obvious and improves the overall aesthetic.
Table Functionality
Data tables should be intuitive. This allows visitors to scan, analyze, understand, and compare the data of each item, package, or product. Ensuring that your data table functions as intended and provides a user-friendly experience relies on a comprehensive integration testing strategy.
The following section will explain how to make this possible.
Use Table Sections
Consider using table sections or table grouping to group related rows. These sections are necessary if putting all similar data together.
They must share the same set of columns. It would be natural to group rows when listing countries or regions.
Ensure that the table sections are collapsible or expandable. Don’t forget to show summarized data when readers need it.
Design Patterns and Common Interactions
Users and web visitors have pattern-seeking tendencies. UX designers use this to create patterns with reusable solutions for usability problems.
These patterns also come in useful when one needs to create a table quickly. people don’t have the time to invent or create a new data table UI design, they can use these patterns as the sole solution for that.
Create Moveable Columns
Users want a customizable table, allowing for easier adjustments in the future. This has several benefits, especially if they’re going to move it to other pages or other page sections.
It also allows them to remove or add new columns.
As a UX designer, it is crucial to give users the ability to move or reorder the cells and content. It’s possible to order the table columns according to the data’s importance, date, or alphabet.
Make the Table Customizable to Add or Edit Data
If the goal is for users to add or edit several data, ensure that the table can edit or add new data. However, if editing or customizing a data table is not the priority task, they can simply use an edit action per row.
While handling errors, try using both color and icons to help with accessibility. It would also be helpful to show the rows with errors by putting a ‘Count on the Table’ header and the on-click filter.
Make the Header Labels Clickable
Making clickable header labels enables users to sort and filter the tables.
It is essential to mark the sorted table column by placing an arrow next to the column name. This shows the order of the sorted column, whether it is ascending or descending.
On the other hand, users need filtering when dealing with a large amount of data. This is possible by using a dropdown, radio buttons, or checkboxes.
It is possible to prioritize the filters based on urgency and frequency while leaving other tasks under the filter menu.
By making the header clickable, users can customize the filters they want to keep. They also have complete control over the actions for the data table.
Freeze the First Few Columns or Rows
This step is crucial, especially if there are too many columns in the data table. It will maintain the whole table context, while the rest of the table gets a scroll bar.
Fixed Columns
For horizontal scrolling, often the first column contains the identifying information. It is advisable to fix this first column in place.
That keeps the row identifier visible to viewers and provides the needed context.
Fixed Headers
Keep the column labels visible all the time. As users scroll vertically, the fixed columns show the identifying information.
Table UI Design Examples
Catalog of Drivers
Top Mutual Funds
Sisyphus™ — dashboard table filtering
Table’s Filters Component – Backmarket Back Office
Column or table view for pricing page
Financial Report By Segments
Catalog Of Books
Sharefox | Orders Page • Desktop & Mobile
Dark Mode Table
Laptop Online Catalog
Pricing Section
Temperature Report – Maximums
Statistics Table With Charts
Payfit – Table component (Midnight Design system)
Employees Table
Table Filters
Impower menu
Pricing – Light and Dark mode
Saved Views
Admintory Order Details
Data grid expanded – Figma Material X design system
Components allocation by supplier (Retail planning SaaS web app)
Data table for HR
Table Ui template for Material X design system
Tables – Product planning (SaaS web app)
User & Group Management
Amondo — Curation Dashboard 4.0
PartsHub Contextual Table Design
Sychromedics Surveillance
Company Performance – Stock Analysis (Web app)
FAQ about table UI design
What are the best practices for designing a table UI?
Ah, you see, table UI design can be tricky. But, worry not! Here are some solid tips: Keep it simple, use clear labels for columns, provide a search function, use alternating row colors, and make it responsive. Don’t forget to include pagination and sorting options, and don’t cram too much info in one cell. Oh, and of course, make sure it’s visually appealing.
How do I make my table UI more accessible?
Accessibility, my friend, is super important. To make a table UI more accessible, use semantic HTML tags like <table>, <thead>, <tbody>, and <tfoot>. Ensure proper contrast between text and background, and provide clear row and column headers. Keyboard navigation should be a breeze, and don’t forget to include aria attributes for screen readers.
What are good ways to manage data in a table UI?
Managing data? You got it! First, break data into pages with pagination. Sorting and filtering options make life easier for users. For large datasets, consider implementing lazy-loading, so you only load data when it’s needed. Inline editing is always a plus. Lastly, consider export options, like CSV or PDF, so users can work with the data elsewhere.
How do I create an effective table UI for mobile devices?
Mobile is the thing, right? So for table UI on mobile, think about responsiveness. Optimize column widths and prioritize important info. Use icons or shortened text for headers to save space. Remember, touch-friendly controls are key, and avoid clutter. Also, consider adding a horizontal scroll if you’ve got a lot of columns.
Should I use zebra striping for my table UI?
Ah, zebra striping! It can be helpful for improving readability. By applying alternating row colors, you make it easier for users to distinguish between rows. Just don’t go overboard on the color contrast, and make sure it matches your overall design.
How do I make my table UI sortable?
Sortable tables are so useful. You can achieve this by adding clickable headers with sort icons (ascending and descending). Use JavaScript or a library like jQuery to sort the data client-side. For server-side sorting, use backend languages and frameworks to handle the heavy lifting.
How do I add filtering options to my table UI?
Filtering, huh? That’s a must! Provide a search box above the table or add filter options to column headers. Use client-side scripting, like JavaScript, or server-side processing to filter the data based on user input. Don’t forget to make it fast and responsive!
What are some useful table UI libraries and frameworks?
So many options! Here are a few popular ones: DataTables (jQuery plugin), Ag-Grid, Tabulator, React Table (for React), and Vue Tables (for Vue.js). Pick one that fits your project’s needs and tech stack.
How can I optimize the performance of my table UI?
Performance is key, my friend. First, consider virtualization for large datasets. Only render visible rows and update as the user scrolls. Use pagination or lazy-loading to manage data. Optimize your code, and don’t forget to cache! Last but not least, make sure server-side processing is efficient, if you’re using it.
How do I make my table UI visually appealing?
Oh, aesthetics! Keep it clean, simple, and uncluttered. Choose a color scheme that matches your overall design. Don’t forget about typography and whitespace. Consistent styling for headers, cells, and controls is important. And finally, don’t underestimate the power of subtle hover effects and animations.
Before Creating a Data Table UI Design
Having an organized data table UI design has a significant impact on how the users view them. Customization is important for creating a data table that is clean and focused.
Before creating a table, keep in mind what the user needs and prefers. Avoid overwhelming users by only including the required features in the data table.
If you liked this article about table UI design, you should check out this article about how to publish an Excel spreadsheet on the web.
There are also similar articles discussing examples of data tables, how to make a data table, pricing table examples, and statistical tables.
And let’s not forget about articles on weather tables, comparison tables, product comparisons, and WordPress Excel spreadsheet plugin.
