Which feature is specific to data tables, not layout tables?

• A. Programmatic markup for data tables
• B. Visual styling using CSS only
• C. Presence of borders
• D. Font choices

Answer: (D)

The essential idea here is semantics: data tables are built to convey information, not just to control layout. A data table uses meaningful markup that describes the structure and relationships of the data—elements like header cells, body rows, and captions, with attributes that indicate what each header governs (for example, scope on header cells). This programmatic markup lets browsers, assistive tech, and scripts understand how the data fits together, which is crucial for accurate interpretation and interaction.

Layout tables, by contrast, were historically used to arrange content on the page. They don’t rely on or expose the data’s structure in a way that tools can interpret beyond visual arrangement, and their markup is not intended to convey tabular data semantics.

Visual styling aspects like borders, fonts, and general CSS styling can be applied to both kinds of tables, so these are not unique indicators of data tables.