P's In Or Around Tables

Someone may have actually looked up the correct answer, but it seems to me that niether way is right or wrong.

In XHTML, tables are used strictly for tabular data, and there should be no need for paragraphs in them. In the same token, HTML 4, tables are an easy way to structure your layout.

If you want to be XHTML compliant, I would not put p-tags in table cells, but rather use a class which will impute the same attributes. And wrap a p-tag around the table if need be.

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Whoa, there is certainly a right answer!

are block-level elements, as are . However, you cannot put inside a . Inside another table, or inside a or yes, nothing else.

can go inside any other block level element except itself (you cannot nest paragraph elements).

You can use inside a if you wish, however it's often redundant for data tables. If you're using tables for layout, however, it's going to be necessary.

When in doubt, http://validator.w3.org will help you.

To sum up, no inline elements can contain a block level element, and can only be in or . can be inside any other block level element, but cannot be nested in another .

Also, better coding:

Or you can use ID if it's a unique table -- same thing in the CSS, only table#thistable instead of table.thistable.

Thanks for clarifying Suzanne!

Hopefully I wasn't too confusing... I just know that I never use p-tags in or around tables =)

Actually, I can make it simpler -- no block level elements can be nested inside a paragraph element. Period. Inline elements only, such as span, strong, em, and img.

Since we are already on the subject, I started a design concept, using XHTML Strict. It validates, but is it really done right?

http://www.seemecreate.com/archive/v3/

All the would be better dealt with by using margins or padding on the divs.

Nesting divs isn't usually necessary for thinks like your links -- a styled list is better for semantic reasons and uses less code.

Inline styles are not ideal -- pull them into global stylesheets.

and such won't render in older browsers, is that intended?

Actually no, that was not intended. I stopped optimizing many sites for older browser (mainly my personal sites) because it is not worth the hassle. I have been tracking my site for 2 1/2 months and have had only a couple of 4+ browsers. If there was a way to keep it viewable for old browsers, I would certainly do it. But since I am not going to use that design anyways I suppose it doesn't matter. But thanks for taking a look Suzanne, when I do re-design, I'll be back here asking for your opinion again. =)