Black Lives Matter. Support the Equal Justice Initiative.
Skip to main contentCarbon Design System

Data table

Data tables are used to organize and display data efficiently. The data table component allows for customization with additional functionality, as needed by your product’s users.

DataTable

Name
Protocol
Port
Rule
Attached Groups
Status
Load Balancer 3HTTP3000Round robinKevins VM GroupsDisabled
Load Balancer 1HTTP443Round robinMaureens VM GroupsStarting
Load Balancer 2HTTP80DNS delegationAndrews VM GroupsActive
Load Balancer 6HTTP3000Round robinMarcs VM GroupsDisabled
Load Balancer 4HTTP443Round robinMels VM GroupsStarting
Load Balancer 5HTTP80DNS delegationRonjas VM GroupsActive
DataTable
Modifiers
Table
Modifiers
size

Basic data table

The data table component is designed in a way for additional functionality to be added on to fit your team’s needs.

The basic data table is shipped with a base style, which includes:

  • Borders
  • No zebra striping, row dividers instead.
  • No Pagination, search, table toolbar, or multiselect
basic data table

Basic data table

Additional functionality

The following can be added to the data table to increase its functionality.

Pagination

Pagination divides table data into separate pages. Pagination is accompanied by an option that enables the user to change the number of items per page. See the pagination component for further guidelines.

data table with pagination

Data table with various Pagination methods

Search returns results based on matches. It is used to locate and display a set of results. Search functionality within a table follows small search conventions. Search should be closed by default, and live below the table title.

data table with search

Search on data tables.

Sorting

Make data sortable to improve table usability. Sorting controls are located in the column headers and indicated with an arrow icon.

A sorted data table has three states: unsorted (arrows), sorted-up (arrow--up) or sorted-down (arrow--down). The icon indicates the current sorted state and is only shown if sorting is activated. Only the column being sorted should display an icon, and unsorted icons are only visible on hover. You can see a demo of table sorting in Carbon’s React Storybook.

Data table with sorting

Sorting on data tables

Table toolbar

The table toolbar is reserved for global table actions such as table settings, complex filter, export, or editing table data. Additional options can be added if you have an icon to support that function. Icons should be 16x16 px (glyphs). We recommend using no more than 5 icons within the table toolbar.

Table toolbar

Table toolbar: table settings

Multiselect / batch action

Batch actions are functions that may be performed on multiple items within a table. Once the user selects at least one row from the table, the batch action bar appears at the top of the table, presenting the user with actions they can take. To exit or escape “batch action mode,” the user can cancel out or deselect the items.

Batch action mode

Batch action mode on data tables

Inline actions

Inline actions are functions that may be performed on a specific table item. Each row is accompanied by an overflow menu that contains actions related specifically to that table row.

Overflow menu example

Overflow menu example

When the overflow menu contains less than three options, keep the actions inline as icon buttons instead. This reduces 1 click and makes available actions visible to users at a glance.

Inline actions without overflow

Overflow menu example

Persistent overflow menu

By default, the overflow menu icon appears on hover or focus. This reduces visual clutter and drives user interactions with clear context and results.

Data table also supports persistent overflow menu icons. Overflow icons should only persist if the actions contained within them are core to the function of your table. Enabling persistent overflow icons may complicate data presentation and impact general usability.

Persistent overflow icon example

Overflow menu example

Expandable

The expandable data table is useful for presenting large amounts of data in a small space. Use the expanded section for supplementary information or data that needs additional query time.

Expandable data table with one row expanded.

Expandable data table with one row expanded

By default, the expand-all chevron is not shown. Keeping detailed information in expanded section saves user loading time by postponing some data queries until needed. Expanding all rows at once will typically negate this advantages of the expandable table. If additional load time is expected to display expanded information, use skeleton states instead of spinners.

Expandabling all rows with skeleton states

Expanding all rows with skeleton states

Feedback

Help us improve this component by providing feedback, asking questions, and leaving any other comments on GitHub.