# Add tables

_Category: Write articles_

Tables make comparisons and reference information easy to scan: plans side by side, settings and what they do, error codes and their fixes.

**Who can do this:** Owners, Admins and Editors · **Plans:** All plans

## Add a table

1. On an empty line, type `/table` and press Enter. A table with three rows and three columns appears. The first row is the header.
2. Click in a cell and type.
3. Press Tab to move to the next cell, or Shift+Tab to go back. Pressing Tab in the last cell adds a new row.

![Screen recording. Type /table and press Enter. Type in a cell, press Tab to move to the next one.](https://helpcenter-io.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/self/8irqU4vDRcGY5HVU1VZcTqslOOC1ke4eqDDx0lKG.gif)
Tab moves you from cell to cell.

## Add or remove rows and columns

Click in any cell and the table toolbar appears:

| Button | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Columns** | **Add column before**, **Add column after** or **Delete column**. |
| **Rows** | **Add row before**, **Add row after** or **Delete row**. |
| **Merge or split cells** | Joins the cells you've selected into one, or splits a merged cell again. Drag across cells to select them. |
| **Toggle header row** | Turns the header style on or off for the first row. The button looks pressed while the table has a header row. |
| **Toggle header column** | Turns the header style on or off for the first column. The button looks pressed while the table has a header column. |
| **Highlight cell** | Tints the selected cells in one of seven tones, from **Gray** to **Purple**. **No highlight** removes the tint. |
| **Table style** | Opens the style panel for this table. See below. |
| **Delete table** | Removes the whole table. |

To change a column's width, drag the border between two columns.

## Style a table

Give a table its own look, such as a grid, stripes or a coloured header, without touching the rest of your help center.

1. Click in the table and click **Table style** (the palette icon) in the table toolbar. A panel opens beside the table.
2. Pick a preset: **Theme**, **Grid**, **Minimal**, **Striped**, **Bold** or **Boxed**. **Theme** draws the table the way your help center theme does.
3. Under **Accent**, keep your help center's primary colour or pick one of ten swatches, or any colour from the picker.
4. Open **Customize** to fine-tune the table:

| Setting | Choices |
| --- | --- |
| **Borders** | **Theme**, a line around every cell, lines between rows only, one line around the table, or no lines at all. |
| **Lines** | **Theme**, **Subtle**, **Strong** or **Accent**. |
| **Header** | **Theme**, **Plain**, **Tint**, **Fill** or **Line**. A table without header cells offers **Add a header row** instead. |
| **Stripes** | **Theme**, **On** or **Off**. |
| **Spacing** | **Compact**, **Normal** or **Roomy**. |

![Screen recording. Click Table style in the table toolbar. Pick a preset, like Boxed. Pick an Accent colour. Open Customize to fine-tune borders, header, stripes and spacing.](https://helpcenter-io.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/self/2RROxdOO3V8VexnTAI80dE6FboYgKmmqAtG8ObSR.gif)
Pick a look, then fine-tune it under Customize.

Every change applies to this table only, and you can undo each one. To go back to your theme's look, click **Reset to theme**. Press Escape or click elsewhere to close the panel.

Readers see the same style on your help center, in the widget and in embeds, on light and dark themes.

## How tables look to readers

Tables fill the width of the article. On a phone, a table that's too wide scrolls sideways inside the article, so the rest of the page stays readable.

## Tips for good tables

- Use tables for data that compares or lists things, not to lay out a page. Screen readers read a table cell by cell.
- Give every column a short header, so readers know what they're looking at.
- Keep cells short. A few words or a number reads well; a paragraph does not.
- The fewer the columns, the less readers on a phone have to scroll sideways. Split a wide table into two.

## Related articles

- [Add headings, lists and other blocks](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/add-blocks)
- [Add code blocks](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/add-code-blocks)