Padding a table row

Padding with charm: Pseudo-classes and operators

We can use the :first-child pseudo-class to style the first cell of each row differently; this can add a pleasing visual element:

td:first-child {
    padding-left: 20px; /* Because your first cell is special, right? */
}
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To bypass certain cells like the first column, the :not() operator comes to rescue:

td:not(:first-child) {
    padding-left: 15px; /* Leave the first one alone! */
}
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Always keep in mind the browser support for these selectors to ensure your aesthetic choices remain universally appreciated.

Going beyond borders: Advanced table padding techniques

For horizontal padding between rows, or to increase that pleasing space, mix border-spacing with border-collapse:

table {
    border-collapse: separate;
    border-spacing: 0 10px; /* "Horizontal" means "sideways", right? */
}
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How about a master trick? You can use the ::before pseudo-element to simulate padding in the cell:

td::before {
    content: "";
    margin-left: 10px; /* I said "padding," but I meant this. */
    display: inline-block; /* because inline is too mainstream */
}
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Just make sure to set the display property to inline or inline-block to not mess with text alignment.

Spacing out problems: Special cases and forward compatibility

The CSS Editor's Draft hints towards direct padding on <tr> elements in future. Keeping an eye on the future of CSS might just land you a job at Google! (Okay, maybe not.)

Let's not forget to account for how CSS versions deal with padding and borders. Who knows, you might just stumble upon an alien browser from the past abusing your template.

The Responsive Approach: Ensuring reuse at its finest

Following the relative path for responsive design

For responsive designs, consider using em or rem for padding. These relative units scale eloquently with your text size:

td {
    padding: 1em; /* One small step for developer, one giant leap for UI */
}
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This ensures your layout behaves and not break a dance on different devices.

Hitting the bulls-eye: Precise styling using Class

For more control over a specific cell’s styles, you can utilize CSS classes:

<td class="padded-cell">Content</td>
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.padded-cell {
    padding: 12px 8px;
}
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Just remember to test run these classes on multiple devices. Cross-test your application and always stay one step ahead of your users' complaints.

The transparent shields: Using border as an alternative to padding

When every other trick fails, shift the game altogether. Consider using transparent borders. This maintains cell dimensions and yet, provides the illusion of space:

td {
    border: 5px solid transparent;
}
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