In a relational database (RDB), a table is a set of data elements (cells) that is organized, defined and stored as horizontal rows (row (database)) and vertical columns (column (database)) where each item can be uniquely identified by a label or key or by its position in relation to other items.

In non-relational / hierarchical systems, a table is called a file.

A table has a specified number of fields but can have any number of records. Rows stored in a table are structurally equivalent to records from flat files in that they must not contain repeating fields.

Unlike spreadsheets a database table can not take any kind of information or even formulas in any cell. The Datatype of each field is strictly defined, mostly by using SQL commands.

A table is the common name for the Relational Model concept of a Relation.

Most database tables consists of a header, and a main data table. The main data table contains the actual structured data, meaning a value is stored at the intersection of each row and column. The header consists of sets of keywords: one set for the whole table, and (potentially) one set per column.

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