Definition
Nested tables have been the backbone of HTML email since CSS layout support in clients is inconsistent. Each cell either holds content or holds a more detailed nested table beneath it.
Best Practices
- Keep nesting depth shallow to simplify maintenance.
- Set width in percentages or fixed pixels consistently across levels.
- Test every nesting level in Outlook, Gmail and Apple Mail.
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Related Glossary Terms
Above the Fold in Email
Above the fold in email refers to the content visible to a recipient before they scroll, a critical area for first impressions and primary calls to action.
Accessible CTA (Email)
An accessible CTA is a button or link coded with sufficient colour contrast, visible focus states, descriptive screen-reader text, and a minimum touch target of 44×44 pixels.
Adaptive Design
Adaptive design in email uses predefined layouts that adjust to specific device or client widths, rather than fluidly resizing to every possible screen.
AI-Generated Content in Email
AI-generated content in email is copy, images, code or subject lines produced by artificial intelligence tools to speed up campaign production and testing.
Alt Text
Alt text is the written alternative to an image in an email, displayed when images are blocked, slow to load, or consumed by screen readers.
Autoplay Video in Email
Autoplay video in email refers to the limited ability to play video content automatically when an email is opened, using specific client-supported techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions
Robust, battle-tested layout that works where flexbox and grid do not.
When a block-level div or a simple margin achieves the same result.
Negligibly, but keep them tidy to ease maintenance.