Help:Tables

Tables may be added to wiki pages using either XHTML table elements directly, or using wikicode formatting to define the table. XHTML table elements and their use are well described on various web pages and will not be discussed here. The benefit of wikitext is that the table is constructed of character symbols which tend to make it easier to perceive the table structure in the article editing view compared to XHTML table elements.

Wiki table markup summary

{|	table start
|+	table caption, optional; only between table start and first table row
|-	table row, optional on first row only -- wiki engine assumes the first row
!	table header cell, optional. Consecutive table header cells may be added on same line separated by double exclamation marks (!!) or started on separate, new lines, each beginning with a single exclamation mark (!).
|	table data cell, required! Consecutive table data cells may be added on same line separated by double pipe symbols (||) or start on new lines, each with its own single pipe symbol (|).
|}	table end

• The above markup symbols must be placed at the start of a new line except the double || and !! for optionally adding consecutive cells to a line. However, blank spaces at the beginning of a line are ignored.
• XHTML attributes. Each mark, except table end, optionally accepts one or more XHTML attributes. Attributes must be on the same line as the mark. Separate attributes from each other with a single space.
  • Cells and caption (| or ||, ! or !!, and |+) hold content. So separate any attributes from content with a single pipe (|). Cell content may follow on same line or on following lines.
  • Table and row marks ({| and |-) do not directly hold content. Do not add pipe (|) after their optional attributes. If you erroneously add a pipe after attributes for the table mark or row mark the parser will delete it and your final attribute if it was touching the erroneous pipe!
• Content may (a) follow its cell mark on the same line after any optional XHTML attributes or (b) on lines below the cell mark. Content that uses wiki markup that itself needs to start on a new line, such as lists, headings, or nested tables, must be on its own new line.
  • Pipe character as content. To insert a pipe (|) character into a table (and not have it interpreted as actual table code) use the {{!}} magic word. You can also use the {{!!}} template for inserting a double pipe.

Basic tables

The following table lacks borders and good spacing but shows the simplest wiki markup table structure. By default, tables have no formatting specified.

You type	You get
{| |Monitor |Mouse |- |Gamepad |Keyboard |- |Mainboard |Video card |}	Monitor Mouse Gamepad Keyboard Mainboard Video card

The cells in the same row can be listed on one line separated by || (two pipe symbols). If the text in the cell contains a line break, use <br/> instead.

You type	You get
{| |Monitor||Mouse||more |- |Gamepad||Keyboard||more |- |Mainboard||Video<br/>card||and<br/>more |}	Monitor Mouse more Gamepad Keyboard more Mainboard Video card and more

Extra spaces within cells in the wiki markup, as in the wiki markup below, do not affect the actual table rendering.

You type	You get
{| | Monitor || Mouse || more |- | Gamepad || Keyboard || more |- | Mainboard || Video card || and more |}	Monitor Mouse more Gamepad Keyboard more Mainboard Video card and more

You can have longer text or more complex wiki syntax inside table cells, too:

You type

You get

{| |Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. | * Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet * consetetur sadipscing elitr * sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt |}

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consetetur sadipscing elitr sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt

Wikitables

You can use class="wikitable" right after the start of the table ({|) to classify it as a "wikitable". The table then gets basic formatting and borders, which usually looks better than the basic non-formatted table.

You type	You get
{| | Monitor || Mouse || more |- | Gamepad || Keyboard || more |- | Mainboard || Video card || and more |}	Monitor Mouse more Gamepad Keyboard more Mainboard Video card and more

You can use header cells in the wikitable format by using ! and !! instead of | and ||. This works similarly as for the basic table.

You type	You get
{| ! One device !! Another device !! Details |- | Monitor || Mouse || more |- | Gamepad || Keyboard || more |- | Mainboard || Video card || and more |}	Output device Input device Details Monitor Mouse more Gamepad Keyboard more Mainboard Video card and more

See also

• MediaWiki Tables