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Grids vs. tables

Two different jobs, two different tools. We’ll help you figure out whether to use a grid or a table and why.

Grids and tables may look similar at first glance, but in Coda, they do very different jobs. Grids help you lay out information. They’re a design and layout tool for presenting content clearly in a doc. Tables are for working with data. They act like databases, so you can filter, reuse, and connect information across your doc. If you’re used to doing structured, spreadsheet-style work in other tools, tables are where that work lives in Coda. This guide will help you understand the role grids and tables play, so you can choose the right one as your work evolves.

What’s in this guide:

You’ll get...
  • Grid vs. table mental model
  • Practical use cases
You’ll use...
  • Grids
  • Tables
  • Slash command and Insert menu

Grids: a layout tool

 It’s easy to reach for a grid any time something looks tabular, but grids work best when the structure supports the page layout, not powers the work behind it. Grids don’t handle things like filters, multiple views, or reuse across your doc. Instead, grids provide the flexibility to organize content visually. You can format individual cells and use formulas within specific cells, but the grid itself stays centered on layout, rather than data relationships. Since grids serve as layout tools, they won’t appear in your doc map.

When to use a grid

 A grid works best when your goal is to shape how content looks and reads on the page. Use a grid when you want to:
  • Arrange content visually on the page.
  • Improve readability and presentation.
  • Simplify narratives by displaying non-reusable information.
If a grid still works when someone prints the page or reads it from top to bottom, it’s probably the right tool.

How teams use grids

Product teams use grids to:
  • Create side-by-side explanations, or FAQs, so they’re easy to scan.
  • Format onboarding docs, guides, or internal documentation.
Engineering teams leverage grids to:
  • Create sectioned layouts for long pages or wikis.
  • Design overview pages that mix headings, text, links, and visuals.
In all of these cases, the grids are there to help your team read and understand the content, not filter or analyze data.

How to create a grid

You can add a grid to your doc in two ways: Using the Slash command:
  1. Type “/grid” into your doc canvas.
  2. Select grid from the list of options.

Using the Insert panel:
  1. Open the Insert panel.
  2. Scroll to Layout.
  3. Choose grid.

From there, you can move, customize, or edit your grid.
Imported data may start as a grid
When you import content from other tools, Coda might bring it in as a grid. The grid preserves your original layout, so you can review what came over and make any quick cleanup changes without losing context. You can easily convert a grid into a table with a few clicks.

Tables: a database

 Tables help you store, structure, and work with data. While they may resemble a spreadsheet, tables function more like a database that your doc can rely on. When you use a table, each row represents a single thing you care about, like a task, customer, or feature. Columns fill in the details about that thing, like who owns it or when it’s due. This setup makes it much easier to work with the same information in different ways without copying it around. Tables also make it easier to be intentional about how you store information. Instead of squeezing everything into text or numbers, you can use column types that match what you're tracking. For example, in a task tracker:
  • Due dates can live in a Date column.
  • Owners can live in a People column.
  • Status can live in a Select list column, which is ideal for repeatable values.
That column-level structure is why formulas work differently in tables than they do in traditional spreadsheets. Instead of adding formulas to individual cells, you add them to the column. Coda then applies the same logic to every row in that column automatically. No need to worry about one row behaving differently from another or formulas getting out of sync. Once your data lives in a table, you can create multiple views, each with its own layout, filters, and columns, without duplicating data.

When to use a table

 Reach for a table when you need to keep information consistent, organized, and easy to work with over time, not just visible on the page. A table works best when the information follows a consistent pattern. Each row represents the same kind of thing, and each column contains the same type of information all the way down. Use a table when:
  • Rows represent real, repeatable things you want to track or manage over time, such as tasks, customers, requests, or features.
  • The information needs to be filtered, sorted, grouped, or viewed in different ways to answer questions or support decisions.
  • The same data should be referenced, reused, or connected elsewhere in your doc, rather than copied or re-entered.
  • The table needs to serve as the source of truth for other views, formulas, or workflows.
  • You expect the information to grow, change, or become more important as your work evolves.

How teams use tables

Product teams use tables to:
  • Keep feature ideas, specs, and requirements organized as plans change.
  • Build roadmaps or sprint plans that they expect to update over time.
  • Look for patterns in feedback, surveys, or experiments.
Engineering teams use tables to:
  • Track bugs and issues from open to resolved.
  • Document APIs, schemas, or system configurations in one place.
  • Compare metrics or test results as systems evolve.
In these use cases, tables make it easier to keep information consistent, up to date, and usable across the rest of the doc.

How to create a table

You can create a table anywhere in your doc. Using the Slash command:
  1. Type “/table” into your doc canvas.
  2. Select table from the list of options.

Using the Insert panel:
  1. Open the Insert panel.
  2. Select table, then choose what you want to create.
Once you create a table, you can add columns, adjust column types, and create views to fit how you want to work with the information. You can start simple and add structure over time as your needs become clearer.

Now what?

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