I want to to create a table with fixed thead
and tfoot
and a scrollable tbody
!
I've tried several approaches, both CSS only and CSS + Javascript, but they are all weak and unreliable and I can easily break them by changing the markup in the demo.
What I want is a way to have the table to behave like a table, this means that the browser will automatically adjust columns based on the content (both at page load that in case of window resize) and that in these scenarios:
if the content of the column's header (thead > tr > th
) is larger than the content of the column's body (tbody > tr > td
) and larger than the content of the column's footer (tfoot > tr > td
) the column should resize based on the size of the column's header
if the content of the column's body (tbody > tr > td
) is larger than the content of the column's header (thead > tr > th
) and larger than the content of the column's footer (tfoot > tr > td
) the column should resize based on the size of the column's body
if the content of the column's footer (tfoot > tr > td
) is larger than the content of the column's header (thead > tr > th
) and larger than the content of the column's body (tbody > tr > td
) the column should resize based on the size of the column's footer
The table
below should clarify the scenarios:
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Header one *leads the width* (case 1)</th>
<th>Header two</th>
<th>Header three</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td>Footer one</td>
<td>Footer two</td>
<td>Footer three *leads the width* (case 3)</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
</table>
I want a clean (as possible) and reliable solution that will work for the different scenarios, possibly CSS only but also JavaScript is OK (vanilla and clean JavaScript, not jQuery plugins).
I don't care about old browser support (it would be great to have it or at least to reach a solution which can degrade gracefully on old browser but it's optional)... I can even accept to use div
s instead of table nodes if the final solution works as expected... so in 2016, with modern browser and CSS is this possible somehow?!
EDIT:
The body should scroll vertically and the table may have any number of columns
UPDATE:
I came up with this solution: https://codepen.io/daveoncode/pen/LNomBE but I'm still not 100% satisfied. The main issue is that I can't set different backgrounds for header and footer cells.
UPDATE 2:
it works now!
We can create such a table with either of the two approaches. By setting the position property to “sticky” and specifying “0” as a value of the top property for the <th> element. By setting the display to “block” for both <thead> and <tbody> element so that we can apply the height and overflow properties to <tbody>.
To freeze the row/column we can use a simple HTML table and CSS. HTML: In HTML we can define the header row by <th> tag or we can use <td> tag also. Below example is using the <th> tag. We also put the table in DIV element to see the horizontal and vertical scrollbar by setting the overflow property of the DIV element.
By setting postion: sticky and top: 0, we can create a fixed header on a scroll in HTML tables.
HTML table with fixed header and footer and scrollable body without fixed widths using CSS only.
This is simple logic we can use table header put position: sticky method below the example:
table th {
position:sticky;
top: 0;
}
Nowadays and for awhile browsers have full support for position: sticky
So we can apply it to thead th
and tfoot tr
body {
margin: 0
}
table {
width: 100%
}
thead th,
tfoot tr {
position: sticky;
background: red
}
thead th {
top: 0
}
tfoot tr {
bottom: 0
}
th,
td {
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center
}
/*give some space between thead and tfoot*/
tbody tr:first-of-type td {
padding-top: 10px;
}
tbody tr:last-of-type td {
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Header one *leads the width* (case 1)</th>
<th>Header two</th>
<th>Header three</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td>Footer one</td>
<td>Footer two</td>
<td>Footer three *leads the width* (case 3)</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
</table>
you can achieve what you want by using a wrapper to your table (div
) and make the tr
from thead
and tfoot
a position:absolute
body {
margin: 0
}
div {
max-height: 500px;
overflow-y: auto;
}
table {
width: 100%
}
thead tr,
tfoot tr {
position: absolute;
left: 0;
right: 15px;
/* to not cover the scrollbar*/
background: red
}
thead th,
tfoot td {
display: inline-block;
}
thead tr {
top: 0
}
tfoot tr {
top: 500px/* same value has max-height from div */
}
th,
td {
width: calc((100%/3) - 5px);
font-size: 12px;
text-align: center
}
/*give some space between thead and tfoot*/
tbody tr:first-of-type td {
padding-top: 35px;
}
tbody tr:last-of-type td {
padding-bottom: 35px;
}
<div>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Header one *leads the width* (case 1)</th>
<th>Header two</th>
<th>Header three</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Column one</td>
<td>Column two *leads the width* (case 2)</td>
<td>Column three</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td>Footer one</td>
<td>Footer two</td>
<td>Footer three *leads the width* (case 3)</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
</table>
</div>
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