Can someone point me in the right direction to find the default width of a <td>? I've been searching through the HTML Living Standard, HTML5 Recommendation, and other sources but haven't found a clear answer.
From what I've observed, it seems that a table cell automatically fills the entire width of its column. Is there any official documentation from W3C or user agents confirming this behavior?
The width of a table cell is determined by CSS, not HTML itself. The CSS 2.1 specification includes a section on table layout that complements HTML's representation of tabular data.
In addition, CSS does not completely define how the width of a cell is calculated, except with the fixed table layout algorithm:
Under the fixed table layout algorithm, the width of each column is decided as follows:
- If a column element has a 'width' property set to a value other than 'auto', it defines the width for that column.
- If there isn't a specific width set for a column, then a cell in the first row with a non-'auto' 'width' sets the width for that column. If the cell spans multiple columns, the width is divided among them.
- Any remaining columns divide the leftover horizontal space equally (excluding borders or cell spacing).
The overall width of the table is determined by comparing the 'width' property of the table element to the sum of the column widths (along with spacing or borders). If the table is wider than the columns, the extra space is distributed across the columns.
However, when it comes to auto table layout, CSS only provides a rough guideline that user agents may choose to adhere to or deviate from. While most common scenarios exhibit consistent behavior where an auto-sized table cell adjusts to fit its content, exploring edge cases can reveal unexpected results.
The W3C sets the standards for determining the width of table columns, with the ultimate decision left to the web browser or agent handling the implementation.
When no specific width is specified for a column by the author, it can cause delays in formatting as the user agent may need to wait for all the data in the column before assigning an appropriate width.
If the column widths are too narrow for the content within a table cell, the user agent has the option to reflow the table layout.
Source: http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/struct/tables.html#h-11.2.4.4
Please note that this information is based on HTML4 documentation.
In the world of web design, a table cell's minimum width is determined by two factors: it can either be 0 or equal to the size of the largest word or image within that cell.
Discovering the Table Sizing Algorithm
Delving into the default sizing algorithm for tables requires a thorough examination involving two passes through the table data. The initial pass involves disabling word wrapping and making note of the minimum and maximum width of each cell. The maximum width is calculated based on the widest line present, while paragraphs are treated as long lines if not broken by line breaks. On the other hand, the minimum width considers the broadest word or image, factoring in any leading indents, list bullets, etc. Essentially, imagine formatting the content of a cell in its own window to determine the smallest width before content starts to get cut off.
The subsequent steps utilize the minimum and maximum cell widths to establish corresponding values for columns. These column widths help derive the overall minimum and maximum width for the table itself. Even with nested tables in cells, managing this process remains relatively uncomplicated. Following this, adjustments are made to assign column widths according to the existing window space, essentially the area between left and right margins.
It's crucial to incorporate table borders and intercell margins during this assignment phase. Three scenarios may arise:
- If the minimum table width matches or exceeds available space, opt for minimum widths and enable horizontal scrolling when needed. To simplify conversions like braille, cells exceeding limits can be referenced via notes placed prior to the table's display.
- If the maximum table width fits well within the available space, proceed by setting columns to their maximal widths.
- In cases where the maximum table width surpasses available space but the minimum falls short, calculate the disparity between space and minimum width (denoted as W) along with the difference between maximum and minimum table width (referred to as D).
For each column, define d as the variance between maximum and minimum width of that particular column. Then, set the column width to the minimum width plus d times W over D, allowing text-heavy columns to widen more than those with less text.
This assignment tactic extends to nested tables, where the enclosing table cell's width mirrors the current window size. The recursive application covers all embedded tables systematically.
If the COLSPEC attribute outlines explicit column widths, the user agent should attempt to adhere to these specifications. However, if column overflow occurs later on, resort back to the two-pass mechanism to rectify width discrepancies. For relative widths specified, following the two-step model becomes mandatory.
The modified column width assignment algorithm prioritizes:
- Utilizing explicitly stated widths from the COLSPEC attribute, given they exceed the minimum column width; otherwise, resort to the latter.
- If dealing with relative widths, distribute surplus space accordingly among columns to meet minimum width requirements. When no surplus exists, adjust column widths above minimum levels to fulfill relative width criteria.
In instances where the WIDTH attribute defines table width, align column widths accordingly unless doing so compromises their minimum measurements.
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