How do you simplify HTML table data presentation with Bootstrap or DataTables?

1 What is Bootstrap?

Bootstrap is a framework that provides a set of CSS and JavaScript components for creating responsive and mobile-friendly web layouts and elements. Bootstrap includes a grid system, typography, buttons, forms, navigation, alerts, modals, and more. One of the components that Bootstrap offers is a table class that adds basic styling and responsiveness to HTML tables. You can use the table class to make your tables look more consistent, elegant, and adaptable to different screen sizes.

2 How to use Bootstrap tables?

To use Bootstrap tables, you need to include the Bootstrap CSS and JavaScript files in your HTML document. You can either download them from the official website or use a CDN link. Then, you need to add the class "table" to your <table> tag, and optionally, some other classes to customize the appearance and behavior of your table. For example, you can use the class "table-striped" to add alternating row colors, or the class "table-hover" to highlight the row under the cursor. You can also use the class "table-responsive" to wrap your table in a container that adds horizontal scrolling on small devices.

3 What is DataTables?

DataTables is a jQuery plugin that adds advanced features and functionality to HTML tables. DataTables can automatically sort, filter, paginate, and search your table data, as well as provide options for exporting, editing, and selecting rows. DataTables can also integrate with Bootstrap and other frameworks to enhance the look and feel of your tables. DataTables is highly customizable and extensible, allowing you to configure and modify its behavior and appearance according to your needs.

4 How to use DataTables?

To use DataTables, you need to include the jQuery and DataTables JavaScript files in your HTML document. You can either download them from the official website or use a CDN link. Then, you need to initialize DataTables on your table element using the jQuery selector and the .DataTable() method. For example, if your table has the id "myTable", you can use the following code to activate DataTables:

$(document).ready(function() {
  $('#myTable').DataTable();
});        

This will apply the default settings and features of DataTables to your table. However, you can also pass an object as an argument to the .DataTable() method to customize various aspects of your table, such as the number of rows per page, the language, the column sorting, the filtering options, and more. You can find the full list of options and examples in the documentation.

5 Bootstrap vs DataTables: Which one to choose?

Both Bootstrap and DataTables can help you simplify HTML table data presentation, but they have different strengths and purposes. Bootstrap is mainly a CSS framework that adds basic styling and responsiveness to your tables, while DataTables is mainly a JavaScript plugin that adds advanced functionality and interactivity to your tables. Therefore, you can use them separately or together, depending on your requirements and preferences.

If you only need to make your tables look nicer and fit different screen sizes, you can use Bootstrap alone. If you need to add sorting, filtering, pagination, and other features to your tables, you can use DataTables alone or with Bootstrap. If you use them together, you can benefit from both the design and the functionality of your tables, but you need to make sure that they are compatible and do not conflict with each other. You can use the official integration files that DataTables provides for Bootstrap and other frameworks, or you can customize your own integration using the API and the callbacks.

6 How to learn more about Bootstrap and DataTables?

Bootstrap and DataTables are powerful and popular libraries for HTML table data presentation. To learn how to use them effectively and creatively, consider exploring the official websites of Bootstrap and DataTables. Here you can find the documentation, download links, examples, and support forums. There are also online courses and tutorials that teach you how to use Bootstrap and DataTables for various projects, such as web development, data analysis, and dashboard creation. Additionally, there are blogs and articles that share tips, tricks, and best practices for using Bootstrap and DataTables. These can provide insight into some inspiring and innovative examples of HTML table data presentation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?