Concept cluster

Structure and explore data

Compare static tabular reading, cell-by-cell interaction, and expandable hierarchical navigation.

Which one to choose

Should people read tabular data, interact cell by cell, or expand a hierarchy?

Table: Table is read as document content and its cells are not focus-managed; Data grid is a composite widget with arrow-key cell navigation, while Tree view organizes hierarchical nodes.
Data grid: Data grid owns focus movement as a composite widget; Table leaves static cells in document reading order, while Tree view uses parent-child expansion instead of rows and columns.
Tree view: Tree view combines hierarchy, composite focus, and parent expansion; Data grid navigates tabular cells, while a nested list or Accordion lacks the tree’s unified keyboard model.

Try it

Structure and explore data

Compare all three behaviors

Shared comparison scenario: A workspace presents a large information set whose structure and interaction model determine how people scan, edit, or expand it.

This context stays fixed. Switch concepts to observe the mission, edge case, and specimen specific to each behavior.

Table

Table is read as document content and its cells are not focus-managed; Data grid is a composite widget with arrow-key cell navigation, while Tree view organizes hierarchical nodes.

Your task

Sort Name ascending and then descending while confirming focus and header context remain intact.

Edge case to verify

Long values use horizontal overflow without converting rows into inaccessible cards or breaking header associations.

Mission

Table

Sort Name ascending and then descending while confirming focus and header context remain intact.

Primary state: Source order is shown with a caption and correctly scoped headers.

Release candidate metrics
	Status	Owner
Beacon	Review	Léo
Atlas	Ready	Amina
Comet	Draft	Marta

Parts of the specimen

Select a numbered marker on the schematic, or use the list below, to see its role. The schematic shows the concept's representative state.

Table

The tabular container that preserves row and column relationships.

The three concepts

ConceptTableA non-widget tabular structure that relates static data through rows, columns, and their headers.Open ConceptData gridAn interactive tabular composite that manages one keyboard entry point and directional focus among cells, often adding editing or selection.Open ConceptTree viewA composite widget for navigating hierarchical items whose parent nodes can expand or collapse their child groups.Open

The three comparisons

ComparisonData grid vs Table ComparisonTable vs Tree view ComparisonData grid vs Tree view

Signals you are confusing them

These descriptions fit every concept in the cluster, so none of them is enough to decide.

show many related records in a compact structured view
the information may be read as a table operated as a grid or expanded as a hierarchy

Other concept clusters

Concept clusterSmall contextual surfaces Concept clusterModal surfaces Concept clusterEdge-attached surfaces Concept clusterChoose from a list Concept clusterChoices and binary states Concept clusterChange view or reveal content Concept clusterInform the user Concept clusterWait and track progress Concept clusterTrigger or navigate Concept clusterEnter text Concept clusterOrient within a journey

Which one to choose

Should people read tabular data, interact cell by cell, or expand a hierarchy?

Table: Table is read as document content and its cells are not focus-managed; Data grid is a composite widget with arrow-key cell navigation, while Tree view organizes hierarchical nodes.
Data grid: Data grid owns focus movement as a composite widget; Table leaves static cells in document reading order, while Tree view uses parent-child expansion instead of rows and columns.
Tree view: Tree view combines hierarchy, composite focus, and parent expansion; Data grid navigates tabular cells, while a nested list or Accordion lacks the tree’s unified keyboard model.

Release candidate metrics

Status

Owner

Beacon

Review

Léo

Atlas

Ready

Amina

Comet

Draft

Marta