Using Div Instead Of Table

I've remembered a nice example where both div and table are used (I believe) correctly.

It is HTML page layout which is based on table, but inside one cell there is div containing source code. Then source code can be switched from C# to VB.NET by simple div manipulation. However, overall layout of the page is tabulated which allowed quick and simple layout design.

Zoran

Hm, I think there a serveral reasons. A major one is that divs are easier to handle by css and working with divs and css it is much easier to separate layout and data. For example if you want to create a navigation bar and (with tables) you have to decide while creating is your bar horizonal or vertical. If you use divs you can set it by css "alignment" what's the way to display it is. Or you can let the user decide if you use a themed web application.

Divs a more flexible.

Div offers more options in CSS regarding the page layout. Table is more static in that way.

However, tables offer the layout with minimum of effort compared to div. When you really need tabulated layout, then use table - it's quick and simple. When you need more layout options and there is a prospect to actually use those options in the future - then use div.

Do not get involved in div vs. table fight which is raging over the Internet. It is mostly fueled by people who have religious ideas regarding div and table, like one is extremely good and the other is junk and vice versa. Try to understand both concepts and then to recognize which one is better in every particular case.

Zoran