Use W3C documentation for the XHTML1.1 table model. (http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml-modularization/abstract_modules.html#s_tablemodule)
The rows and columns part of a full table. The standard XHTML 1.1 table model, which should be used as defined in the XHTML table model, has been used to take advantage of existing software for table handling.
This element contains only the rows and columns of the table, which is typically just part of what would be called a “table” in print or display. A full table might also include a table number (label), a table title, a table caption, table notes and footnotes, introductory paragraphs, etc., so a full table is tagged using the <table-wrap> element. If the complex table contains rows and columns, <table-wrap> will contain a <table> as well as other content.
The standard XHMTL model has been modified to remove the <caption> element from within the <table> element, because, in the base Suite, the <caption> element has been made part of the <table-wrap> element.
The following changes were made to the OASIS table model:
No other changes were made to the OASIS table content model.
The following, in order:
In the following example, the table is wrapped in an <alternatives> element together with a graphic showing the formatted table:
...
<table-wrap>
<alternatives>
<table rules="rows">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Color</th>
<th>Size</th>
<th>Price</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td rowspan="3">Green</td>
<td>small</td>
<td>$3.25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>medium</td>
<td>$2.25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>large</td>
<td>$1.15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="3">Red</td>
<td>small</td>
<td>$3.25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>medium</td>
<td>$5.25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>large</td>
<td>$9.95</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<graphic xlink:href="images/tablesample1">
<alt-text>A table with columns for color, size, and price.</alt-text>
<long-desc>The table has three columns, labeled "Color",
"Size", and "Price".
It has six rows; reading across, they are:
Green, small, $3.25,
Green, medium, $2.25,
Green, large, $1.15;
Red, small, $3.25,
Red, medium, $5.25,
Red, large, $9.95.
(Tbe words "Green" and "Red" occur only once each, in an area
three rows in height.)
</long-desc>
</graphic>
</alternatives>
</table-wrap>
...
The graphic rendering of the table is:

xhtml-table-1.mod