Data table
A data table lays values out in rows and columns so they can be compared. On a phone it is wider than the screen, so it scrolls sideways under a pinned lead column and its headers can sort.
Why it matters
Comparing values across rows is what a table does and a list does not. On a narrow screen the risk is that a value scrolls away from the label that names it.
Apple’s guidance for lists and tables is to keep them manageable by listing the most relevant items and giving a way to see more.
Data table on iOS and Android
Also called Table, Grid, Sortable table. The same idea in each system, with the values Appetite UI gives it.
| Value | iOS | Android | Appetite UI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Table, as a list or SwiftUI Table | No table in the file | Table |
| Inset layout in the file | 361 wide at radius 16, lead column 160 | Same table, no counterpart in the file | See below |
| Full bleed layout in the file | 393 wide, square corners, lead column 168 | Same table, no counterpart in the file | See below |
In Appetite UI
Table has two layouts, Inset inside a card or padded screen and Full bleed from edge to edge, three row heights, sortable headers and one pinned column. The docs say to pin only the column that names the row, and only when the table is wider than the screen.
Example
A holdings screen pins the Name column. Price, change and volume scroll sideways under it, and tapping the Change header sorts the rows.
Common mistakes
- Pinning more than one column, which leaves no room for the values.
- Pinning when the table already fits the screen.
- A table where a list would do. If rows are not compared, use a list.
- Headers that do not say they sort.
Questions
When should I use a table and not a list?
Use a table when people compare the same values across rows. Use a list when each row is one item to open.
How do I keep labels visible while a table scrolls?
Pin the lead column that names the row, so a value never loses its label while it scrolls sideways.
Sources
The pages the facts above rest on, each read October 30, 2026.