What is the display table in web design?

In web design, the term "display table" refers to a CSS property that allows elements to behave like HTML table elements, without actually using the <table>, <tr>, <td>, etc. tags. This approach is often used for layout purposes, providing a way to create grid-like structures and align content in a more flexible manner than traditional block or inline elements.

Here's a breakdown of how display: table and its related properties work:

1. `display: table`: This property applied to a container element makes it behave like a <table> element. It creates a table formatting context for its children.

2. `display: table-row`: Applied to child elements within a `display: table` container, this makes them behave like <tr> elements, creating rows within the table structure.

3. `display: table-cell`: Applied to child elements within a `display: table-row` element, this makes them behave like <td> elements, creating cells within the rows.

4. Other Related Properties: There are other related properties like `display: table-header-group`, `display: table-footer-group`, `display: table-column`, and `display: table-column-group` that mimic the behavior of their respective HTML table counterparts.

Why Use `display: table`?

- Vertical Alignment: One of the primary reasons for using `display: table` is to achieve vertical alignment of content within cells. This is often challenging with traditional CSS layouts.

- Equal Height Columns: It can be used to create equal height columns without relying on JavaScript or complex CSS hacks.

- Grid-like Layouts: It provides a way to create grid-like layouts, although CSS Grid and Flexbox are now more commonly used for this purpose.

Example:

<div style="display: table;">
  <div style="display: table-row;">
    <div style="display: table-cell; border: 1px solid black;">Cell 1</div>
    <div style="display: table-cell; border: 1px solid black;">Cell 2</div>
  </div>
  <div style="display: table-row;">
    <div style="display: table-cell; border: 1px solid black;">Cell 3</div>
    <div style="display: table-cell; border: 1px solid black;">Cell 4</div>
  </div>
</div>

Important Considerations:

- While `display: table` can be useful, it's important to note that it's not as flexible as CSS Grid or Flexbox for complex layouts. It's often better suited for specific use cases like vertical alignment or equal height columns.

- Using `display: table` for layout can sometimes lead to less semantic HTML, as it's not using the actual table elements for tabular data. It's crucial to use it judiciously and consider the context of your layout.

In summary, `display: table` provides a way to create table-like layouts using CSS, offering some unique advantages, particularly in vertical alignment and equal height columns. However, it's essential to understand its limitations and consider modern layout techniques like CSS Grid and Flexbox for more complex designs.

Learn more about this