# Table views Display data in a single column of customizable rows. ## Discussion A table view displays a single column of vertically scrolling content, divided into rows and sections. Each row of a table displays a single piece of information related to your app. Sections let you group related rows together. For example, the Contacts app uses a table to display the names of the user’s contacts.  Table views are a collaboration between many different objects, including: - Cells. A cell provides the visual representation for your content. You can use the default cells provided by UIKit or define custom cells to suit the needs of your app. - Table view controller. You typically use a [`UITableViewController`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewController) object to manage a table view. You can use other view controllers too, but a table view controller is required for some table-related features to work. - Your data source object. This object adopts the [`UITableViewDataSource`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDataSource) protocol and provides the data for the table. - Your delegate object. This object adopts the [`UITableViewDelegate`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDelegate) protocol and manages user interactions with the table’s contents. ## Topics ### Essentials [`UITableView`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableView) A view that presents data using rows in a single column. ### Data [Filling a table with data](/documentation/UIKit/filling-a-table-with-data) Create and configure cells for your table dynamically using a data source object, or provide them statically from your storyboard. [Asynchronously loading images into table and collection views](/documentation/UIKit/asynchronously-loading-images-into-table-and-collection-views) Store and fetch images asynchronously to make your app more responsive. [`UITableViewDataSource`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDataSource) The methods that an object adopts to manage data and provide cells for a table view. [`UITableViewDataSourcePrefetching`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDataSourcePrefetching) A protocol that provides advance warning of the data requirements for a table view, allowing you to start potentially long-running data operations early. [`UITableViewDiffableDataSource`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDiffableDataSource-2euir) The object you use to manage data and provide cells for a table view. [`NSDiffableDataSourceSnapshot`](/documentation/UIKit/NSDiffableDataSourceSnapshot-swift.struct) A representation of the state of the data in a view at a specific point in time. [`UILocalizedIndexedCollation`](/documentation/UIKit/UILocalizedIndexedCollation) An object that organizes, sorts, and localizes the data for a table view that has a section index. [`UIDataSourceTranslating`](/documentation/UIKit/UIDataSourceTranslating) An advanced interface for managing a data source object. [`UIRefreshControl`](/documentation/UIKit/UIRefreshControl) A standard control that can initiate the refreshing of a scroll view’s contents. ### Data [Filling a table with data](/documentation/UIKit/filling-a-table-with-data) Create and configure cells for your table dynamically using a data source object, or provide them statically from your storyboard. [Asynchronously loading images into table and collection views](/documentation/UIKit/asynchronously-loading-images-into-table-and-collection-views) Store and fetch images asynchronously to make your app more responsive. [`UITableViewDataSource`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDataSource) The methods that an object adopts to manage data and provide cells for a table view. [`UITableViewDataSourcePrefetching`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDataSourcePrefetching) A protocol that provides advance warning of the data requirements for a table view, allowing you to start potentially long-running data operations early. [`UITableViewDiffableDataSourceReference`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDiffableDataSourceReference) The object you use to manage data and provide cells for a table view. [`NSDiffableDataSourceSnapshotReference`](/documentation/UIKit/NSDiffableDataSourceSnapshotReference) A representation of the state of the data in a view at a specific point in time. [`UILocalizedIndexedCollation`](/documentation/UIKit/UILocalizedIndexedCollation) An object that organizes, sorts, and localizes the data for a table view that has a section index. [`UIDataSourceTranslating`](/documentation/UIKit/UIDataSourceTranslating) An advanced interface for managing a data source object. [`UIRefreshControl`](/documentation/UIKit/UIRefreshControl) A standard control that can initiate the refreshing of a scroll view’s contents. ### Table management [Estimating the height of a table’s scrolling area](/documentation/UIKit/estimating-the-height-of-a-table-s-scrolling-area) Provide height estimates for your table view’s headers, footers, and rows to ensure that scrolling accurately reflects the size of your content. [`UITableViewController`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewController) A view controller that specializes in managing a table view. [`UITableViewDelegate`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDelegate) Methods for managing selections, configuring section headers and footers, deleting and reordering cells, and performing other actions in a table view. [`UITableViewFocusUpdateContext`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewFocusUpdateContext) A context object that provides information relevant to a specific focus update from one view to another. ### Cells, headers, and footers [Configuring the cells for your table](/documentation/UIKit/configuring-the-cells-for-your-table) Specify the appearance and content of your table’s rows by defining one or more prototype cells in your storyboard. [Creating self-sizing table view cells](/documentation/UIKit/creating-self-sizing-table-view-cells) Create table view cells that support Dynamic Type and use system spacing constraints to adjust the spacing surrounding text labels. [Adding headers and footers to table sections](/documentation/UIKit/adding-headers-and-footers-to-table-sections) Differentiate groups of rows visually by adding header and footer views to your table view’s sections. [`UITableViewCell`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewCell) The visual representation of a single row in a table view. [`UITableViewHeaderFooterView`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewHeaderFooterView) A reusable view that you place at the top or bottom of a table section to display additional information for that section. ### Row actions [`UISwipeActionsConfiguration`](/documentation/UIKit/UISwipeActionsConfiguration) The set of actions to perform when swiping on rows of a table. [`UIContextualAction`](/documentation/UIKit/UIContextualAction) An action to display when the user swipes a table row. [`UITableViewRowAction`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewRowAction) A single action to present when the user swipes horizontally in a table row. ### Selection management [Handling row selection in a table view](/documentation/UIKit/handling-row-selection-in-a-table-view) Detect when a user taps a table view cell so your app can take the next indicated action. [Selecting multiple items with a two-finger pan gesture](/documentation/UIKit/selecting-multiple-items-with-a-two-finger-pan-gesture) Accelerate user selection of multiple items using the multiselect gesture on table and collection views. ### Drag and drop [Supporting drag and drop in table views](/documentation/UIKit/supporting-drag-and-drop-in-table-views) Initiate drags and handle drops from a table view. [Adopting drag and drop in a table view](/documentation/UIKit/adopting-drag-and-drop-in-a-table-view) Demonstrates how to enable and implement drag and drop for a table view. [`UITableViewDragDelegate`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDragDelegate) The interface for initiating drags from a table view. [`UITableViewDropDelegate`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDropDelegate) The interface for handling drops in a table view. [`UITableViewDropCoordinator`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDropCoordinator) An interface for coordinating your custom drop-related actions with the table view. [`UITableViewDropItem`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDropItem) The data associated with an item being dropped into the table view. [`UITableViewDropProposal`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDropProposal) Your proposed solution for handling a drop in a table view. ### Placeholder cells [`UITableViewDropPlaceholderContext`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDropPlaceholderContext) An object for tracking a placeholder cell that you added to your table during a drop operation. [`UITableViewDropPlaceholder`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewDropPlaceholder) A placeholder cell that supports customizing the drop preview parameters. [`UITableViewPlaceholder`](/documentation/UIKit/UITableViewPlaceholder) An object that contains information about a placeholder cell being inserted into a table. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. 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