December 11, 20251 min read
Data tables that don't fight you
uxdataviz
The data table is where ambition goes to die. Everyone needs one, nobody wants to own one, and they accumulate features until they are unusable.
Density is a feature, not a flaw
Power users want to see more, not less. Tighten the row height, right-align your numbers, and resist the urge to pad everything into a spreadsheet of cards.
Keep the structure still
Sorting, filtering and pagination should never shift the columns under the user. The frame stays put; only the rows change. Stability is what makes a table feel trustworthy.
- —Right-align numbers and use tabular figures.
- —Freeze the header and the identifying column.
- —Make the whole row a hit target, not a tiny link.