Difference Between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps
Difference Between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps
Understanding the difference between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps is essential for app makers who aim to present data effectively in their applications. While both controls are used to display data from a collection or data source, they serve different use cases and provide distinct user experiences. In this detailed guide, we explore their key features, functionalities, limitations, and use-case-based comparisons to help you make informed design decisions in your PowerApps applications.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Overview of the Modern Table
- Overview of the Gallery Control
- Key Differences Between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps
- When to Use Modern Table vs Gallery in PowerApps
- UI/UX Comparison: Modern Table vs Gallery in PowerApps
- Performance and Delegation in PowerApps
- Formatting and Customization Capabilities
- Accessibility and Responsiveness
- Practical Examples of Modern Table and Gallery Usage
- Pros and Cons of Modern Table and Gallery
- Summary of the Difference
- Conclusion
Introduction to Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps
When building PowerApps, developers often need to display records from SharePoint lists, Excel files, or Dataverse tables. Two common controls used to achieve this are the Modern Table and the Gallery. Both controls support binding to data sources, but their visual layouts and customization options differ significantly. Understanding the difference between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps will enable you to pick the right control for better performance, layout flexibility, and user interaction.
Overview of the Modern Table in PowerApps
The Modern Table in PowerApps is a new addition designed to offer Excel-like tabular functionality with improved formatting and native filtering capabilities. Unlike traditional Data Table controls, the Modern Table offers a more interactive and user-friendly experience.
Key Features of the Modern Table:
- Inline filtering and sorting on column headers
- Support for pagination
- Improved styling over legacy data tables
- Native responsive layout
- Automatically adapts to SharePoint list schema
- Fewer limitations compared to classic Data Table controls
This control is ideal for use cases where you want to give users a familiar tabular view like Excel or SharePoint.
Overview of the Gallery Control in PowerApps
The Gallery control in PowerApps is a versatile layout container used to repeat a layout template for each record in a data source. It allows high degrees of customization and is ideal for displaying records in list, card, or custom layouts.
Types of Gallery Controls:
- Vertical Gallery
- Horizontal Gallery
- Flexible Height Gallery
- Blank Gallery (fully customizable)
Key Features:
- Supports multimedia and rich controls (buttons, icons, images)
- Allows full control over layout and styling
- Supports conditional formatting
- Can be used in conjunction with collections, variables, and delegation
Understanding how Gallery works is essential to contrast the difference between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps accurately.
Key Differences Between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps
| Feature | Modern Table | Gallery |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Fixed table-style layout | Highly customizable layout |
| Customization | Limited to column formatting | Full layout control |
| Sorting/Filtering | Built-in via headers | Requires manual logic |
| Multimedia | Not supported | Fully supported |
| Use Case | Excel-style data view | Cards, lists, media-rich apps |
| Performance | Optimized for tabular data | Can impact performance with rich media |
| Pagination | Supported | Requires manual implementation |
This table captures the difference between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps in terms of layout, control, and performance.
When to Use Modern Table vs Gallery in PowerApps
Understanding when to choose a Modern Table or a Gallery depends on the goal of your screen and user interactions.
Use Modern Table when:
- You want a clean tabular layout
- You need built-in column sorting and filtering
- You prefer out-of-the-box pagination
- You work with SharePoint or Dataverse schema
- You don’t require multimedia or action buttons per row
Use Gallery when:
- You want full control over row layout
- You need to show buttons, icons, or images in each item
- You want vertical or horizontal scrolling
- You are creating custom-designed cards or dashboards
Choosing the right control based on these factors is essential to balance usability and app performance.
UI/UX Comparison: Modern Table vs Gallery in PowerApps
From a UI/UX perspective, both controls offer different user experiences.
- Modern Table is more intuitive for users familiar with Excel or SharePoint. It works well in enterprise settings.
- Gallery provides flexibility and visual appeal, especially in mobile apps and scenarios with dynamic content.
If you’re aiming for fast onboarding and a recognizable layout, the Modern Table is better. If visual engagement and interaction matter, use the Gallery.
Performance and Delegation in PowerApps
Both Modern Table and Gallery are affected by delegation rules in PowerApps. However:
- Modern Table supports delegation out-of-the-box for supported connectors like SharePoint and Dataverse.
- Gallery requires manual control of delegation with functions like
Filter,SortByColumns, andSearch.
To prevent delegation warnings and maintain app performance:
- Use delegable functions
- Limit record counts using
Limit Rows - Implement pagination for Galleries manually when working with large datasets
Understanding performance implications is a major aspect of grasping the difference between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps.
Formatting and Customization Capabilities
Modern Table:
- Column-level formatting only
- Supports custom column width
- No support for inserting buttons, checkboxes, or multimedia
Gallery:
- Full customization of items
- Allows combining controls: labels, icons, buttons
- Enables conditional formatting per item
The level of formatting freedom you need can guide your decision between the two.
Accessibility and Responsiveness
Both controls are responsive, but with different strategies.
- Modern Table auto-adapts to screen width and uses standard tabular patterns
- Gallery requires manual layout adjustments for responsiveness using flexible containers
Accessibility features like screen readers are better supported in Modern Tables due to semantic structure, while Galleries may require ARIA support manually.
Practical Examples of Modern Table and Gallery Usage
Example 1: Employee Directory
- Modern Table for HR to filter/sort data
- Gallery for users to view profiles with pictures and action buttons
Example 2: Task Management App
- Modern Table for project managers to track statuses
- Gallery for team members to interact with tasks using buttons
Example 3: Product Catalog
- Modern Table for backend data review
- Gallery for customer-facing product views with images and descriptions
These real-world examples showcase the functional difference between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps.
Pros and Cons of Modern Table and Gallery
Modern Table Pros:
- Clean and professional look
- Built-in sorting and filtering
- Easier to configure
Modern Table Cons:
- Limited customization
- No multimedia or interactive controls
Gallery Pros:
- Fully customizable layout
- Supports multimedia and interactivity
- Flexible design for various screen types
Gallery Cons:
- Needs manual implementation for sorting/paging
- May affect performance if not optimized
Summary of the Difference Between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps
| Criteria | Modern Table | Gallery |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Fixed tabular | Custom cards |
| Interactivity | Basic | Advanced |
| Sorting/Filtering | Built-in | Manual |
| Multimedia | Not supported | Supported |
| Use Case | Data-heavy tables | Visual apps |
| Delegation | Strong | Depends on implementation |
| Customization | Low | High |
This comparative summary simplifies the difference between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps for decision-making.
Conclusion
The difference between Modern Table and Gallery in PowerApps boils down to your app’s functional goals, user interface requirements, and desired level of customization. The Modern Table control is best suited for structured, read-only tabular data displays, while the Gallery control shines in rich, interactive, and media-driven designs. Choosing the appropriate control not only improves user experience but also enhances the performance and maintainability of your app.
By understanding the strengths and limitations of each, you can build smarter, more user-centric PowerApps that align with both design standards and business logic.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of PowerApps Gallery, organized for easy understanding and reference. You can also check the reference here
PowerApps Full Course reference is here