benefits of tableless design of web pages? [duplicate]

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Why not use tables for layout in HTML?

These days, I am reading a lot that we should write tableless HTML. I believe that requires a lot of CSS knowledge. My questions are:

• What are the benefits of tableless design?
• What are the conditions when tables should be used?
• How to begin?

Answer 1

What are the benefits of table less design?

There are many, not the least of which is reduced HTML payload, and the flexibility to change the layout (via CSS) without changing the markup.

One way they reduce payload is that, with styles stored in an external stylesheet, and stylesheets often being shared between pages, caching really swings in to the rescue. One could argue that stylesheets can be used with tables. Yup; however, disciplined use of divs for layout tends to promote the use stylesheets.

You could read up on Search-Engine Optimisation (SEO) design. One principal of SEO is to get your important content up toward the top of the HTML tree, above relatively unimportant stuff like navigation. This really isn't possible with table-based design.

What are the conditions when tables should be used?

Use tables to show tabular data. Avoid them for layout.

How to begin?

I'm a fan of w3schools, and the awsome CSS Zen Garden. Those gave me my start.