GWT: FlexTable vs Table

Question

Under what circumstance I should use FlexTable instead of HTMLTable?

Answer 1

HTMLTable is an abstract class. FlexTable extends this class as well as Grid. HTMLTable is thus never used directly, but you would use FlexTable or Grid. The question is than probably when to use FlexTable? and when to use Grid?

The difference between those classes is that a Grid always has the same number of rows and/or columns while a FlexTable can have different rows per column and different columns per row (This is made possible due to the html properties rowspan and colspan).

Thus when you need flexibale rows or columns you can use FlexTable and otherwise Grid.

However, FlexTable is extremely slow in Internet Explorer, due to slow DOM methods that are used to create a the table. Therefore, avoid FlexTable if you can or only use it create a simple layout (although in that case the DockPanel might be somewhat easier to use).