Displaying tables

Andrew Irwin, a.irwin@dal.ca

2026-02-05

Displaying tables

After we collect, reshape, and summarize data, we want to display it!

• Rename and align columns

• Format (bold, italic, colour)

• Add column headings

• Group rows

• Add captions

• Consistent goal: make the table easy to interpret

Packages

Tools we always use from tidyverse and table formatting tools from kableExtra

Raw data

                     mpg cyl  disp  hp drat    wt  qsec vs am gear carb
Mazda RX4           21.0   6 160.0 110 3.90 2.620 16.46  0  1    4    4
Mazda RX4 Wag       21.0   6 160.0 110 3.90 2.875 17.02  0  1    4    4
Datsun 710          22.8   4 108.0  93 3.85 2.320 18.61  1  1    4    1
Hornet 4 Drive      21.4   6 258.0 110 3.08 3.215 19.44  1  0    3    1
Hornet Sportabout   18.7   8 360.0 175 3.15 3.440 17.02  0  0    3    2
Valiant             18.1   6 225.0 105 2.76 3.460 20.22  1  0    3    1
Duster 360          14.3   8 360.0 245 3.21 3.570 15.84  0  0    3    4
Merc 240D           24.4   4 146.7  62 3.69 3.190 20.00  1  0    4    2
Merc 230            22.8   4 140.8  95 3.92 3.150 22.90  1  0    4    2
Merc 280            19.2   6 167.6 123 3.92 3.440 18.30  1  0    4    4
Merc 280C           17.8   6 167.6 123 3.92 3.440 18.90  1  0    4    4
Merc 450SE          16.4   8 275.8 180 3.07 4.070 17.40  0  0    3    3
Merc 450SL          17.3   8 275.8 180 3.07 3.730 17.60  0  0    3    3
Merc 450SLC         15.2   8 275.8 180 3.07 3.780 18.00  0  0    3    3
Cadillac Fleetwood  10.4   8 472.0 205 2.93 5.250 17.98  0  0    3    4
Lincoln Continental 10.4   8 460.0 215 3.00 5.424 17.82  0  0    3    4
Chrysler Imperial   14.7   8 440.0 230 3.23 5.345 17.42  0  0    3    4
Fiat 128            32.4   4  78.7  66 4.08 2.200 19.47  1  1    4    1
Honda Civic         30.4   4  75.7  52 4.93 1.615 18.52  1  1    4    2
Toyota Corolla      33.9   4  71.1  65 4.22 1.835 19.90  1  1    4    1
Toyota Corona       21.5   4 120.1  97 3.70 2.465 20.01  1  0    3    1
Dodge Challenger    15.5   8 318.0 150 2.76 3.520 16.87  0  0    3    2
AMC Javelin         15.2   8 304.0 150 3.15 3.435 17.30  0  0    3    2
Camaro Z28          13.3   8 350.0 245 3.73 3.840 15.41  0  0    3    4
Pontiac Firebird    19.2   8 400.0 175 3.08 3.845 17.05  0  0    3    2
Fiat X1-9           27.3   4  79.0  66 4.08 1.935 18.90  1  1    4    1
Porsche 914-2       26.0   4 120.3  91 4.43 2.140 16.70  0  1    5    2
Lotus Europa        30.4   4  95.1 113 3.77 1.513 16.90  1  1    5    2
Ford Pantera L      15.8   8 351.0 264 4.22 3.170 14.50  0  1    5    4
Ferrari Dino        19.7   6 145.0 175 3.62 2.770 15.50  0  1    5    6
Maserati Bora       15.0   8 301.0 335 3.54 3.570 14.60  0  1    5    8
Volvo 142E          21.4   4 121.0 109 4.11 2.780 18.60  1  1    4    2

kable formatting

mtcars |> kable() |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE) 

	mpg	cyl	disp	hp	drat	wt	qsec	vs	am	gear	carb
Mazda RX4	21.0	6	160.0	110	3.90	2.620	16.46	0	1	4	4
Mazda RX4 Wag	21.0	6	160.0	110	3.90	2.875	17.02	0	1	4	4
Datsun 710	22.8	4	108.0	93	3.85	2.320	18.61	1	1	4	1
Hornet 4 Drive	21.4	6	258.0	110	3.08	3.215	19.44	1	0	3	1
Hornet Sportabout	18.7	8	360.0	175	3.15	3.440	17.02	0	0	3	2
Valiant	18.1	6	225.0	105	2.76	3.460	20.22	1	0	3	1
Duster 360	14.3	8	360.0	245	3.21	3.570	15.84	0	0	3	4
Merc 240D	24.4	4	146.7	62	3.69	3.190	20.00	1	0	4	2
Merc 230	22.8	4	140.8	95	3.92	3.150	22.90	1	0	4	2
Merc 280	19.2	6	167.6	123	3.92	3.440	18.30	1	0	4	4
Merc 280C	17.8	6	167.6	123	3.92	3.440	18.90	1	0	4	4
Merc 450SE	16.4	8	275.8	180	3.07	4.070	17.40	0	0	3	3
Merc 450SL	17.3	8	275.8	180	3.07	3.730	17.60	0	0	3	3
Merc 450SLC	15.2	8	275.8	180	3.07	3.780	18.00	0	0	3	3
Cadillac Fleetwood	10.4	8	472.0	205	2.93	5.250	17.98	0	0	3	4
Lincoln Continental	10.4	8	460.0	215	3.00	5.424	17.82	0	0	3	4
Chrysler Imperial	14.7	8	440.0	230	3.23	5.345	17.42	0	0	3	4
Fiat 128	32.4	4	78.7	66	4.08	2.200	19.47	1	1	4	1
Honda Civic	30.4	4	75.7	52	4.93	1.615	18.52	1	1	4	2
Toyota Corolla	33.9	4	71.1	65	4.22	1.835	19.90	1	1	4	1
Toyota Corona	21.5	4	120.1	97	3.70	2.465	20.01	1	0	3	1
Dodge Challenger	15.5	8	318.0	150	2.76	3.520	16.87	0	0	3	2
AMC Javelin	15.2	8	304.0	150	3.15	3.435	17.30	0	0	3	2
Camaro Z28	13.3	8	350.0	245	3.73	3.840	15.41	0	0	3	4
Pontiac Firebird	19.2	8	400.0	175	3.08	3.845	17.05	0	0	3	2
Fiat X1-9	27.3	4	79.0	66	4.08	1.935	18.90	1	1	4	1
Porsche 914-2	26.0	4	120.3	91	4.43	2.140	16.70	0	1	5	2
Lotus Europa	30.4	4	95.1	113	3.77	1.513	16.90	1	1	5	2
Ford Pantera L	15.8	8	351.0	264	4.22	3.170	14.50	0	1	5	4
Ferrari Dino	19.7	6	145.0	175	3.62	2.770	15.50	0	1	5	6
Maserati Bora	15.0	8	301.0	335	3.54	3.570	14.60	0	1	5	8
Volvo 142E	21.4	4	121.0	109	4.11	2.780	18.60	1	1	4	2

Scrolling to show big tables

mtcars |> kable() |> 
  kable_styling() |> scroll_box()

	mpg	cyl	disp	hp	drat	wt	qsec	vs	am	gear	carb
Mazda RX4	21.0	6	160.0	110	3.90	2.620	16.46	0	1	4	4
Mazda RX4 Wag	21.0	6	160.0	110	3.90	2.875	17.02	0	1	4	4
Datsun 710	22.8	4	108.0	93	3.85	2.320	18.61	1	1	4	1
Hornet 4 Drive	21.4	6	258.0	110	3.08	3.215	19.44	1	0	3	1
Hornet Sportabout	18.7	8	360.0	175	3.15	3.440	17.02	0	0	3	2
Valiant	18.1	6	225.0	105	2.76	3.460	20.22	1	0	3	1
Duster 360	14.3	8	360.0	245	3.21	3.570	15.84	0	0	3	4
Merc 240D	24.4	4	146.7	62	3.69	3.190	20.00	1	0	4	2
Merc 230	22.8	4	140.8	95	3.92	3.150	22.90	1	0	4	2
Merc 280	19.2	6	167.6	123	3.92	3.440	18.30	1	0	4	4
Merc 280C	17.8	6	167.6	123	3.92	3.440	18.90	1	0	4	4
Merc 450SE	16.4	8	275.8	180	3.07	4.070	17.40	0	0	3	3
Merc 450SL	17.3	8	275.8	180	3.07	3.730	17.60	0	0	3	3
Merc 450SLC	15.2	8	275.8	180	3.07	3.780	18.00	0	0	3	3
Cadillac Fleetwood	10.4	8	472.0	205	2.93	5.250	17.98	0	0	3	4
Lincoln Continental	10.4	8	460.0	215	3.00	5.424	17.82	0	0	3	4
Chrysler Imperial	14.7	8	440.0	230	3.23	5.345	17.42	0	0	3	4
Fiat 128	32.4	4	78.7	66	4.08	2.200	19.47	1	1	4	1
Honda Civic	30.4	4	75.7	52	4.93	1.615	18.52	1	1	4	2
Toyota Corolla	33.9	4	71.1	65	4.22	1.835	19.90	1	1	4	1
Toyota Corona	21.5	4	120.1	97	3.70	2.465	20.01	1	0	3	1
Dodge Challenger	15.5	8	318.0	150	2.76	3.520	16.87	0	0	3	2
AMC Javelin	15.2	8	304.0	150	3.15	3.435	17.30	0	0	3	2
Camaro Z28	13.3	8	350.0	245	3.73	3.840	15.41	0	0	3	4
Pontiac Firebird	19.2	8	400.0	175	3.08	3.845	17.05	0	0	3	2
Fiat X1-9	27.3	4	79.0	66	4.08	1.935	18.90	1	1	4	1
Porsche 914-2	26.0	4	120.3	91	4.43	2.140	16.70	0	1	5	2
Lotus Europa	30.4	4	95.1	113	3.77	1.513	16.90	1	1	5	2
Ford Pantera L	15.8	8	351.0	264	4.22	3.170	14.50	0	1	5	4
Ferrari Dino	19.7	6	145.0	175	3.62	2.770	15.50	0	1	5	6
Maserati Bora	15.0	8	301.0	335	3.54	3.570	14.60	0	1	5	8
Volvo 142E	21.4	4	121.0	109	4.11	2.780	18.60	1	1	4	2

Paged data to show big tables

mtcars |> rmarkdown::paged_table()

Changing column headings

mtcars |> as_tibble(rownames = "make_model") |>
  select(make_model, mpg, cyl, wt) |>
  kable(col.names = c("Make & Model", "Miles per gallon", 
                      "Cylinders", "Weight (1000 lbs)")) |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE)

Make & Model	Miles per gallon	Cylinders	Weight (1000 lbs)
Mazda RX4	21.0	6	2.620
Mazda RX4 Wag	21.0	6	2.875
Datsun 710	22.8	4	2.320
Hornet 4 Drive	21.4	6	3.215
Hornet Sportabout	18.7	8	3.440
Valiant	18.1	6	3.460
Duster 360	14.3	8	3.570
Merc 240D	24.4	4	3.190
Merc 230	22.8	4	3.150
Merc 280	19.2	6	3.440
Merc 280C	17.8	6	3.440
Merc 450SE	16.4	8	4.070
Merc 450SL	17.3	8	3.730
Merc 450SLC	15.2	8	3.780
Cadillac Fleetwood	10.4	8	5.250
Lincoln Continental	10.4	8	5.424
Chrysler Imperial	14.7	8	5.345
Fiat 128	32.4	4	2.200
Honda Civic	30.4	4	1.615
Toyota Corolla	33.9	4	1.835
Toyota Corona	21.5	4	2.465
Dodge Challenger	15.5	8	3.520
AMC Javelin	15.2	8	3.435
Camaro Z28	13.3	8	3.840
Pontiac Firebird	19.2	8	3.845
Fiat X1-9	27.3	4	1.935
Porsche 914-2	26.0	4	2.140
Lotus Europa	30.4	4	1.513
Ford Pantera L	15.8	8	3.170
Ferrari Dino	19.7	6	2.770
Maserati Bora	15.0	8	3.570
Volvo 142E	21.4	4	2.780

Formatting rows & columns

mtcars |> as_tibble(rownames = "make_model") |> select(make_model, mpg, cyl, wt) |>
  kable(col.names = c("Make & Model", "Miles per gallon", "Cylinders", "Weight (1000 lbs)"),
        align = "lccr",
        digits = 1) |>
  column_spec(1, bold = TRUE) |>
  column_spec(3, color = "blue") |>
  row_spec(2, italic = TRUE) |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE, 
                font_size=24)

Make & Model	Miles per gallon	Cylinders	Weight (1000 lbs)
Mazda RX4	21.0	6	2.6
Mazda RX4 Wag	21.0	6	2.9
Datsun 710	22.8	4	2.3
Hornet 4 Drive	21.4	6	3.2
Hornet Sportabout	18.7	8	3.4
Valiant	18.1	6	3.5
Duster 360	14.3	8	3.6
Merc 240D	24.4	4	3.2
Merc 230	22.8	4	3.1
Merc 280	19.2	6	3.4
Merc 280C	17.8	6	3.4
Merc 450SE	16.4	8	4.1
Merc 450SL	17.3	8	3.7
Merc 450SLC	15.2	8	3.8
Cadillac Fleetwood	10.4	8	5.2
Lincoln Continental	10.4	8	5.4
Chrysler Imperial	14.7	8	5.3
Fiat 128	32.4	4	2.2
Honda Civic	30.4	4	1.6
Toyota Corolla	33.9	4	1.8
Toyota Corona	21.5	4	2.5
Dodge Challenger	15.5	8	3.5
AMC Javelin	15.2	8	3.4
Camaro Z28	13.3	8	3.8
Pontiac Firebird	19.2	8	3.8
Fiat X1-9	27.3	4	1.9
Porsche 914-2	26.0	4	2.1
Lotus Europa	30.4	4	1.5
Ford Pantera L	15.8	8	3.2
Ferrari Dino	19.7	6	2.8
Maserati Bora	15.0	8	3.6
Volvo 142E	21.4	4	2.8

Headers spanning multiple columns

mtcars |> select(mpg, cyl, hp, wt) |> kable() |>
  add_header_above(c(" " = 1, "Group A" = 2, "Group B" = 2)) |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE)

	Group A		Group B
	mpg	cyl	hp	wt
Mazda RX4	21.0	6	110	2.620
Mazda RX4 Wag	21.0	6	110	2.875
Datsun 710	22.8	4	93	2.320
Hornet 4 Drive	21.4	6	110	3.215
Hornet Sportabout	18.7	8	175	3.440
Valiant	18.1	6	105	3.460
Duster 360	14.3	8	245	3.570
Merc 240D	24.4	4	62	3.190
Merc 230	22.8	4	95	3.150
Merc 280	19.2	6	123	3.440
Merc 280C	17.8	6	123	3.440
Merc 450SE	16.4	8	180	4.070
Merc 450SL	17.3	8	180	3.730
Merc 450SLC	15.2	8	180	3.780
Cadillac Fleetwood	10.4	8	205	5.250
Lincoln Continental	10.4	8	215	5.424
Chrysler Imperial	14.7	8	230	5.345
Fiat 128	32.4	4	66	2.200
Honda Civic	30.4	4	52	1.615
Toyota Corolla	33.9	4	65	1.835
Toyota Corona	21.5	4	97	2.465
Dodge Challenger	15.5	8	150	3.520
AMC Javelin	15.2	8	150	3.435
Camaro Z28	13.3	8	245	3.840
Pontiac Firebird	19.2	8	175	3.845
Fiat X1-9	27.3	4	66	1.935
Porsche 914-2	26.0	4	91	2.140
Lotus Europa	30.4	4	113	1.513
Ford Pantera L	15.8	8	264	3.170
Ferrari Dino	19.7	6	175	2.770
Maserati Bora	15.0	8	335	3.570
Volvo 142E	21.4	4	109	2.780

Grouping rows

mtcars |> select(mpg, cyl, hp, wt) |> kable() |>
  group_rows("Group 1", 1, 4) |>
  group_rows("Group 2", 5, 9) |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE)

	mpg	cyl	hp	wt
Group 1
Mazda RX4	21.0	6	110	2.620
Mazda RX4 Wag	21.0	6	110	2.875
Datsun 710	22.8	4	93	2.320
Hornet 4 Drive	21.4	6	110	3.215
Group 2
Hornet Sportabout	18.7	8	175	3.440
Valiant	18.1	6	105	3.460
Duster 360	14.3	8	245	3.570
Merc 240D	24.4	4	62	3.190
Merc 230	22.8	4	95	3.150
Merc 280	19.2	6	123	3.440
Merc 280C	17.8	6	123	3.440
Merc 450SE	16.4	8	180	4.070
Merc 450SL	17.3	8	180	3.730
Merc 450SLC	15.2	8	180	3.780
Cadillac Fleetwood	10.4	8	205	5.250
Lincoln Continental	10.4	8	215	5.424
Chrysler Imperial	14.7	8	230	5.345
Fiat 128	32.4	4	66	2.200
Honda Civic	30.4	4	52	1.615
Toyota Corolla	33.9	4	65	1.835
Toyota Corona	21.5	4	97	2.465
Dodge Challenger	15.5	8	150	3.520
AMC Javelin	15.2	8	150	3.435
Camaro Z28	13.3	8	245	3.840
Pontiac Firebird	19.2	8	175	3.845
Fiat X1-9	27.3	4	66	1.935
Porsche 914-2	26.0	4	91	2.140
Lotus Europa	30.4	4	113	1.513
Ford Pantera L	15.8	8	264	3.170
Ferrari Dino	19.7	6	175	2.770
Maserati Bora	15.0	8	335	3.570
Volvo 142E	21.4	4	109	2.780

Adding caption, footnote

mtcars |> head() |> select(mpg, cyl, hp, wt) |> 
  kable(caption="Car data from Motor Trend magazine.") |>
  kable_styling(full_width = FALSE) |>
  footnote(symbol = c("Footnote 1.", 
                      "Footnote 2")) 

Car data from Motor Trend magazine.

	mpg	cyl	hp	wt
Mazda RX4	21.0	6	110	2.620
Mazda RX4 Wag	21.0	6	110	2.875
Datsun 710	22.8	4	93	2.320
Hornet 4 Drive	21.4	6	110	3.215
Hornet Sportabout	18.7	8	175	3.440
Valiant	18.1	6	105	3.460
* Footnote 1.
† Footnote 2

Packages used

• knitr – for knitting R markdown documents; already installed; has kable function
• kableExtra – nicer formatting of tables, e.g., kable_styling
  • also column_spec, row_spec, add_header_above, group_rows, footnote

Other packages to consider:

• DT for making data tables (web page), especially interactive tables for web pages
• gt (demos and help)
• flextable for working with Microsoft Office
• Information about these and more

Further reading

• Course notes

• kableExtra vignette