Html table in email body
The age-old challenge of including an HTML table in an email body!
To include an HTML table in an email body, you'll need to use a combination of HTML and email client-specific techniques. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you achieve this:
Step 1: Create the HTML table
Create an HTML table using the <table>
element and its child elements, such as <tr>
and <td>
. For example:
<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td>Cell 1</td>
<td>Cell 2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cell 3</td>
<td>Cell 4</td>
</tr>
</table>
Step 2: Use a table-friendly email template
Use a table-friendly email template that allows you to include HTML code in the email body. You can use a template from a email service provider like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or Campaign Monitor, or create your own using a HTML editor.
Step 3: Use a table-friendly email client
Not all email clients support HTML tables equally. Some popular email clients that support HTML tables include:
- Gmail (web and mobile)
- Outlook (web and desktop)
- Yahoo Mail (web and mobile)
- Apple Mail (desktop)
However, some email clients may not support HTML tables or may render them incorrectly. For example:
- AOL Mail (web and mobile)
- Hotmail (web and mobile)
Step 4: Use a fallback solution
To ensure that your email is readable even if the email client doesn't support HTML tables, use a fallback solution. You can use a plain text version of your table or use a CSS workaround to display the table as a plain text list.
Example: Using a CSS workaround
You can use CSS to display the table as a plain text list if the email client doesn't support HTML tables. Add the following CSS code to your email template:
table {
display: inline-block;
border-collapse: collapse;
}
table td {
display: inline-block;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
padding: 5px;
}
This CSS code will display the table as a plain text list if the email client doesn't support HTML tables.
Example: Using a plain text version
You can also provide a plain text version of your table by including it in the email body. For example:
Table:
Cell 1 | Cell 2
-----|-----
Cell 3 | Cell 4
This way, even if the email client doesn't support HTML tables, the plain text version will still be readable.
By following these steps, you should be able to include an HTML table in your email body that is readable by most email clients.