Retrieval and usability, control 6 of 18
R-06 Use tables for genuinely comparable information
Tables should make structured information easier to understand, not disguise keyword repetition or unverifiable claims.
- Priority
- High priority.
- Hard gate
- No
- Change class
- AUTO_WITH_TEST: A candidate requiring relevant tests.
- Quality bucket
- Retrieval and usability
Why it matters
A table without clear criteria or units forces readers to guess what each number means. Search engines and AI answer engines read tables as structured facts, so a table that is really a keyword list gives them nothing reliable to use.
Evidence to review
- Table extraction, source checks and mobile/accessibility review.
How to implement
- Define consistent comparison dimensions and units.
- Show unknowns rather than filling cells with guesses.
- Keep sources and checked dates where facts change.
- Test headers, mobile overflow and assistive navigation.
How UltimateSEO checks this
Automated. A check in the scan sets PASS or FAIL for this control, and reports UNKNOWN or BLOCKED when its input is missing.
States used: PASS, FAIL, UNKNOWN, NOT_APPLICABLE or BLOCKED. UNKNOWN is never shown as a pass. How states work.
Sources
Part of The UltimateSEO Framework v4.3, catalogue dated 2026-10-14. Evidence states, control states and the publish gate are explained on the hub.