| In the world of web designing, there is a plethora of | | | | be used for tabular data and not for page layout. |
| options and ways to go by. Owing the manifold | | | | In CSS, on the other hand, HTML returns to a |
| purposes of websites, they can be designed in a | | | | semantic set-up. With this, search engines are able to |
| variety of ways. And this leads to some issues, | | | | understand what is happening in a web page. But one |
| courtesy different schools of thought. The issues, | | | | major downfall of CSS is the fact that control is |
| whatsoever, arise due to conflicts between differing | | | | essentially abandoned because each browser has its |
| goals and web design methods. There can be no | | | | own trait which leads the page to have a different |
| universal right way, but they vary according to the | | | | display. |
| aims. Some issues are addressed here: | | | | To avoid this stand off, you will have to decide |
| Liquid vs. Fixed Layouts | | | | firsthand on the approach that will be followed whilst |
| Web designers do not usually have everything under | | | | designing the website. Here are some key elements |
| their control while designing a website. Some of the | | | | that should be kept in mind: |
| factors that are not in their control are browser | | | | Website Planning- It is important to decide the |
| windows, used input devices such as mouse, touch | | | | purpose and aim of the website. Ascertain the target |
| screen, voice command, text etc. and the size and | | | | audience or market and keep them in mind while |
| characteristics of fonts available. | | | | designing the website. Also, have a steady eye for |
| However, the use of specific width designations | | | | the contents of thesite. |
| makes the job easier for web designers who seek | | | | Audience- The website planning process is incomplete |
| to control the element's appearance on screen. This | | | | without ascertaining your target market or audience. |
| may be done with the use of HTML table-based | | | | Your audience is the group of people you visualize as |
| design or CSS. | | | | the potential customers i.e. the ones who would most |
| Fixed width design happens when images, texts and | | | | likely visit your website and add to the business. |
| design layouts do not change with the browser. | | | | These people will be visiting your website for a |
| Designers who seek to control the look and feel of | | | | purpose so it is beneficial to know the things they |
| the website as well as the placement of objects on | | | | are looking for. |
| the page are supporters of this technique. Others | | | | Looks vs. Function |
| however use liquid design. In liquid design, the design | | | | Some designers pay more attention on how the site |
| moves so thatthe content will flow on the whole | | | | looks rather than on how it works. Some even rely |
| screen or a portion of it. This design is a hit with | | | | on advertisements, so that clients will find their |
| people who wish to use all the available spaces on | | | | website directly without relying on search engines. On |
| the web. | | | | the other hand, there are SEO's or Search Engine |
| CSS vs. Tables | | | | Optimization consultants who are concerned with |
| In the days when Netscape Navigator 4 ruled the | | | | how a web site works, textually and technically. |
| roost, web designers used tables to layout the web | | | | Designers and SEO's have a constant conflict |
| pages. Then, it was the most practical solution to | | | | courtesy difference in theirconcerns. It is sensible to |
| address the layout hassles. But it required dozens of | | | | have the say as per the website's needs and |
| nested tables even for simple designs. | | | | demands. |
| However, with the emergence of dominant browsers | | | | Michael Henderson is a professional web developer |
| such as Internet Explorer, which became more | | | | and SEO expert, who has successfullycompleted |
| compliant to W3C, designers switched loyalties to | | | | many outsource web design |
| CSS. Advocates of CSS say that tables should only | | | | India projects in his career span. |