Changing the Number of Rows in an HTML Table with CSS

HTML tables are a fundamental part of web development, used to present tabular data in an organized manner. Sometimes, you may need to change the number of rows in a table dynamically or adjust their appearance based on different conditions. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) plays a crucial role in controlling the layout and styling of HTML tables, including managing the number of visible rows. In this blog post, we’ll explore the fundamental concepts, usage methods, common practices, and best practices for changing the number of rows in an HTML table using CSS.

Table of Contents

  1. Fundamental Concepts
  2. Usage Methods
  3. Common Practices
  4. Best Practices
  5. Conclusion
  6. References

Fundamental Concepts

HTML Tables Basics

An HTML table is created using the <table> element, with rows defined by <tr> (table row) elements and cells defined by <td> (table data) or <th> (table header) elements. For example:

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Header 1</th>
    <th>Header 2</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Data 1</td>
    <td>Data 2</td>
  </tr>
</table>

CSS Display Property

The display property in CSS is used to control how an element is displayed on the page. When it comes to changing the number of visible rows in a table, the display property can be set to none to hide a row and table-row to show it.

CSS Selectors

Selectors are used to target specific elements in an HTML document. You can use class selectors, ID selectors, or element selectors to target table rows. For example, if you have a class named hidden-row on a table row, you can target it using the .hidden-row selector.

Usage Methods

Hiding Rows with CSS

To hide a row in a table, you can set the display property of the <tr> element to none. Here’s an example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
  <style>
    .hidden-row {
      display: none;
    }
  </style>
</head>

<body>
  <table>
    <tr>
      <th>Header 1</th>
      <th>Header 2</th>
    </tr>
    <tr class="hidden-row">
      <td>Hidden Data 1</td>
      <td>Hidden Data 2</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Visible Data 1</td>
      <td>Visible Data 2</td>
    </tr>
  </table>
</body>

</html>

In this example, the row with the class hidden-row will be hidden from the table.

Showing Hidden Rows

To show a hidden row, you can change the display property of the <tr> element back to table-row. You can do this using JavaScript or by removing the class that sets the display property to none. Here’s an example using JavaScript:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
  <style>
    .hidden-row {
      display: none;
    }
  </style>
</head>

<body>
  <table>
    <tr>
      <th>Header 1</th>
      <th>Header 2</th>
    </tr>
    <tr class="hidden-row">
      <td>Hidden Data 1</td>
      <td>Hidden Data 2</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Visible Data 1</td>
      <td>Visible Data 2</td>
    </tr>
  </table>
  <button onclick="showHiddenRow()">Show Hidden Row</button>
  <script>
    function showHiddenRow() {
      var hiddenRow = document.querySelector('.hidden-row');
      hiddenRow.style.display = 'table-row';
    }
  </script>
</body>

</html>

Common Practices

Using JavaScript for Dynamic Row Manipulation

In many cases, you may need to change the number of rows based on user interactions or data changes. JavaScript can be used to add or remove rows dynamically. Here’s an example of adding a new row to a table:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<body>
  <table id="myTable">
    <tr>
      <th>Header 1</th>
      <th>Header 2</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Data 1</td>
      <td>Data 2</td>
    </tr>
  </table>
  <button onclick="addRow()">Add Row</button>
  <script>
    function addRow() {
      var table = document.getElementById('myTable');
      var newRow = table.insertRow();
      var cell1 = newRow.insertCell(0);
      var cell2 = newRow.insertCell(1);
      cell1.innerHTML = 'New Data 1';
      cell2.innerHTML = 'New Data 2';
    }
  </script>
</body>

</html>

Using CSS Media Queries for Responsive Tables

Media queries can be used to change the number of visible rows based on the screen size. For example, you can hide some rows on smaller screens to make the table more readable.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
  <style>
    @media (max-width: 600px) {
      .responsive-hidden-row {
        display: none;
      }
    }
  </style>
</head>

<body>
  <table>
    <tr>
      <th>Header 1</th>
      <th>Header 2</th>
    </tr>
    <tr class="responsive-hidden-row">
      <td>Data for Large Screens 1</td>
      <td>Data for Large Screens 2</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Data 1</td>
      <td>Data 2</td>
    </tr>
  </table>
</body>

</html>

Best Practices

Maintain Semantic HTML

Keep your HTML code semantic by using proper table elements like <table>, <tr>, <td>, and <th>. This makes your code more accessible and easier to understand.

Use CSS Classes for Styling

Instead of using inline styles to hide or show rows, use CSS classes. This makes your code more modular and easier to maintain.

Test for Compatibility

Test your code in different browsers to ensure that the table row manipulation works as expected. Some older browsers may have issues with certain CSS properties or JavaScript methods.

Conclusion

Changing the number of rows in an HTML table using CSS and JavaScript can be a powerful way to enhance the user experience and make your tables more dynamic. By understanding the fundamental concepts, usage methods, common practices, and best practices, you can effectively manage the number of visible rows in your tables. Whether you’re hiding rows, showing hidden rows, or adding new rows dynamically, CSS and JavaScript provide the tools you need to create engaging and responsive tables.

References