UI Design

How to Design UI Tables

UI tables are among the most complex UI elements to design because they often display large, interconnected datasets. Presenting this information in a logical, digestible, and visually appealing way can be challenging. This guide will help you design intuitive and effective UI tables.

An angled table design against a warm gradient background. The table includes columns labeled 'Status,' 'Full Name,' 'Severity,' 'Stage,' 'Amount,' and 'Project,' with sample data such as 'No Signal,' 'Arlene McCoy,' and 'Level 3.' Red dashed lines emphasize column alignment and spacing, showcasing structured data organization.

What Are Tables?

UI tables display information in a grid of rows and columns. They must be organized meaningfully to be effective so users can quickly gain insights or identify patterns. Interactivity is key—allowing users to customize the data enhances usability. Above all, UI tables should be intuitive and easy to navigate.

Anatomy of a Table

The anatomy of a table consists of:

Basic elements: Columns labeled with headers and rows containing data for individual entries.
Interactive elements: Features like checkboxes, sorting options, icons, and pagination that enhance usability.

Annotated table design highlighting six key elements: (1) 'Header row' with column titles, (2) 'Rows' displaying data such as 'No Signal' and 'Phoenix: Shared areas,' (3) 'Pagination' at the bottom for navigation, (4) 'Row checkbox (optional)' for selection, (5) 'Sort icon' indicating sortable columns, and (6) 'Container' defining the table's boundary. Red dashed lines outline each labeled element.

UI tables anatomy

Suggested Specifications

When designing UI tables, follow these specifications:

Touch targets: The minimum size for touch interfaces is 48×48, but touch targets can extend beyond the element’s bounds.
Cell padding: Minimize padding to increase content density, especially when working with large datasets.
Rounded corners: Subtly round corners to create a card-like appearance.
Number alignment: Always right-align numbers to improve scannability and usability.

Annotated table design emphasizing spacing and alignment. Labels include: (1) Row selection checkbox, (2) Vertical and horizontal padding between rows and columns, (3) Table footer with pagination controls, and (4) Column alignment, specifically highlighting the 'Amount' column. Red dashed lines and measurements illustrate spacing details.

Suggested specifications for UI tables

Columns

When designing columns for UI tables:

Header text: Ensure column headers are visually distinct for clarity.
Sorting: Enable sorting for columns if it makes sense for the data type.
Truncated text: Use hover interactions to reveal truncated text.
Avoid horizontal scrolling: Design tables to minimize the need for horizontal scrolling.
Padding: Apply 16dp padding to each side of a column, resulting in 32dp spacing between columns.

Columns for UI tables

Rows

When designing rows for UI tables:

Row height: Set row heights between 40-56dp for optimal readability.
Selection states: Use a distinct background color for selected rows that differ from the hover state.
Focus states: Define clear focus states for keyboard navigation.
Visual separation: Use lines, colors, or whitespace to separate rows visually. Remember that less is more in most cases.

A table design showing row selection functionality. Several rows are checked using red-highlighted checkboxes in the 'Status' column, while others remain unchecked. The table includes columns such as 'Signal Name,' 'Severity,' 'Stage,' 'Schedule,' and 'Project.' A red delete icon is shown in the header row, indicating a bulk action for selected rows.

Rows in UI tables

Inline Menus

Inline menus in UI tables are embedded directly within cells to ensure discoverability and intuitive interactivity. They allow users to select from a predefined set of options. Depending on the complexity, you can:

Open as an overlay: Display options in a dropdown or modal.
Enable expansion: Allow further expanding of rows or menu items when necessary.

Expandable rows can further enhance usability, especially for dense datasets.

Inline menus

Pagination

Pagination in UI tables serves to indicate that more content is available and provides access to additional pages. To design effective pagination:

Row control: Allow users to adjust the number of rows displayed per page.
Current view: Clearly indicate which rows are currently visible.
Navigation: Enable easy navigation between pages, such as with next/previous buttons or a page number input.

This approach ensures users can explore large datasets efficiently and intuitively.

A table design with a pagination dropdown open, allowing users to select the number of rows displayed per page. The dropdown options include 5, 10, 20, and 50 rows. Columns include 'Status,' 'Signal Name,' 'Severity,' 'Stage,' 'Schedule,' and 'Project,' with consistent row data shown. Navigation controls are visible at the bottom for switching pages.

Example of pagination in UI tables

Designing effective UI tables is all about balancing functionality and clarity. You can make tables that are user-friendly and attractive. To do this, understand their anatomy, optimize the columns and rows, and use intuitive elements like inline menus and pagination. Use these tips to ensure your UI tables deliver data in a way that’s easy to digest, interact with, and navigate.

Ready to stop searching endlessly for answers and start mastering the foundations of UI design? The Ultimate UI Elements Guide is your time-saving solution. It brings together everything you need to enhance your design skills and gain insights into the core building blocks of user interfaces—all in one place.

For other valuable educational resources, explore our Learn section. Here, we offer heaps of courses, workbooks, and other resources that will help you improve your skills in UX/UI.
Happy designing! 🤗