Introduction to Tables and Lists

Summary

Tables and lists help to simplify and organize information. Both tables and lists structure information so that it is easier to understand than reading through paragraphs of text.

• Content is easier to scan.
• Relationships between items are easier to identify.
• Needed information is easier to find.

Overview

Tables and lists make information more scannable than the same content written as a paragraph of text. When content is scannable, it helps people to find needed information quickly and understand it more readily.

Tables are a valuable way of presenting large amounts of data to people and indicating relationships between the data. The rows and columns of a table’s visual structure help people scan large amounts of information.

• Use the correct document or web formatting to create tables.
• Well-formatted tables can efficiently present information about hundreds of related data records, making it easier for people to analyze large amounts of data.
• Correctly formatted tables provide people using assistive technology the same level of understanding and efficiency when analyzing a table’s data.
• Simple tables are best. Complex tables can be difficult for assistive technologies to interpret and generally slow everyone down. Instead, break them down into smaller, simple tables wherever possible.
• Avoid the use of layout tables when possible. Websites should only use tables to display data, not for layout purposes.

Lists are a helpful way to group a series of related items. Lists make it easier for people to scan and understand this information quickly.

• Use the correct document or web formatting to create lists.
• Bulleted lists simplify sentence structure.
• Numbered lists break complex processes into a series of steps.

Who is Helped

Tables and lists make information more accessible.

• Structuring content with tables and lists benefits people with cognitive disabilities that impact language-related or reading skills, such as dyslexia.
• Tables and lists help people who use assistive technologies such as screen readers gain a better understanding of the relationships between different aspects of information.