In this article I will explain with an example, how to display data of DataTable as HTML Table in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net.
Database
I have made use of the following table Customers with the schema as follows.
![Display DataTable in HTML Table in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net]()
I have already inserted few records in the table.
![Display DataTable in HTML Table in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net]()
Note: You can download the database table SQL by clicking the download link below.
Download SQL file
HTML Markup
The HTML Markup consists of a PlaceHolder within which the HTML Table will be displayed.
<asp:PlaceHolder ID = "PlaceHolder1" runat="server" />
Namespaces
You will need to import the following namespaces.
C#
using System.Data;
using System.Text;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
VB.Net
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Configuration
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Displaying data of DataTable as HTML Table using C# and VB.Net
Inside the Page Load event, first the DataTable is populated with the records from the Customers table.
Then using the StringBuilder class, a string consisting of an HTML Table is generated by iterating through the columns and the rows of the DataTable.
Finally, the HTML string is displayed on the page by adding the Literal control to the PlaceHolder.
C#
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (!this.IsPostBack)
{
//Populating a DataTable from database.
DataTable dt = this.GetData();
//Building an HTML string.
StringBuilder html = new StringBuilder();
//Table start.
html.Append("<table border = '1'>");
//Building the Header row.
html.Append("<tr>");
foreach (DataColumn column in dt.Columns)
{
html.Append("<th>");
html.Append(column.ColumnName);
html.Append("</th>");
}
html.Append("</tr>");
//Building the Data rows.
foreach (DataRow row in dt.Rows)
{
html.Append("<tr>");
foreach (DataColumn column in dt.Columns)
{
html.Append("<td>");
html.Append(row[column.ColumnName]);
html.Append("</td>");
}
html.Append("</tr>");
}
//Table end.
html.Append("</table>");
//Append the HTML string to Placeholder.
PlaceHolder1.Controls.Add(new Literal { Text = html.ToString() });
}
}
private DataTable GetData()
{
string constr = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["constr"].ConnectionString;
using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(constr))
{
using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("SELECT CustomerId, Name, Country FROM Customers"))
{
using (SqlDataAdapter sda = new SqlDataAdapter())
{
cmd.Connection = con;
sda.SelectCommand = cmd;
using (DataTable dt = new DataTable())
{
sda.Fill(dt);
return dt;
}
}
}
}
}
VB.Net
Protected Sub Page_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
If Not Me.IsPostBack Then
'Populating a DataTable from database.
Dim dt As DataTable = Me.GetData()
'Building an HTML string.
Dim html As New StringBuilder()
'Table start.
html.Append("<table border = '1'>")
'Building the Header row.
html.Append("<tr>")
For Each column As DataColumn In dt.Columns
html.Append("<th>")
html.Append(column.ColumnName)
html.Append("</th>")
Next
html.Append("</tr>")
'Building the Data rows.
For Each row As DataRow In dt.Rows
html.Append("<tr>")
For Each column As DataColumn In dt.Columns
html.Append("<td>")
html.Append(row(column.ColumnName))
html.Append("</td>")
Next
html.Append("</tr>")
Next
'Table end.
html.Append("</table>")
'Append the HTML string to Placeholder.
PlaceHolder1.Controls.Add(New Literal() With { _
.Text = html.ToString() _
})
End If
End Sub
Private Function GetData() As DataTable
Dim constr As String = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("constr").ConnectionString
Using con As New SqlConnection(constr)
Using cmd As New SqlCommand("SELECT CustomerId, Name, Country FROM Customers")
Using sda As New SqlDataAdapter()
cmd.Connection = con
sda.SelectCommand = cmd
Using dt As New DataTable()
sda.Fill(dt)
Return dt
End Using
End Using
End Using
End Using
End Function
Screenshots
HTML table as displayed on the page
![Display DataTable in HTML Table in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net]()
HTML Table as seen on the source of the page
![Display DataTable in HTML Table in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net]()
Demo
Downloads
