Plain-Text Tables for CLI Documentation

Command-line interfaces often need to show structured information without HTML or Markdown. A CLI help screen might list flags. A build tool might print output formats. A deployment script might summarize checks. Plain-text tables are a practical way to keep that information readable.

The challenge is that terminal output has constraints. Lines wrap. Fonts vary. Some environments support Unicode; others are safer with ASCII. Good CLI tables are short, predictable, and easy to scan.

Use tables for reference data

Tables are useful when each row has the same shape:

CLI content	Useful columns
Flags	Flag, default, description
Commands	Command, purpose, example
Checks	Check, status, duration
Formats	Format, output, best use
Environment variables	Name, required, description

Avoid tables for step-by-step tutorials. Numbered lists are usually better for workflows.

Keep descriptions short

CLI output wraps quickly. This table is too wide:

+----------+---------+--------------------------------------------------+
| Flag     | Default | Description                                      |
+----------+---------+--------------------------------------------------+
| --watch  | false   | Rebuild the project every time a file changes... |
+----------+---------+--------------------------------------------------+

A better version uses short descriptions and explains detail below:

+----------+---------+-------------------------+
| Flag     | Default | Description             |
+----------+---------+-------------------------+
| --watch  | false   | Rebuild on changes      |
+----------+---------+-------------------------+
| --strict | true    | Fail on invalid input   |
+----------+---------+-------------------------+

If a flag needs more explanation, add a paragraph after the table.

Choose ASCII when compatibility matters

ASCII grid tables are safe in most terminals:

+----------+---------+-----------------------+
| Flag     | Default | Description           |
+----------+---------+-----------------------+
| --out    | dist    | Output directory      |
+----------+---------+-----------------------+
| --format | grid    | Text table style      |
+----------+---------+-----------------------+

Use ASCII when output may be copied into logs, CI systems, older terminals, or plain-text reports.

Choose Unicode when the terminal supports it

Unicode tables look cleaner:

┌──────────┬─────────┬──────────────────┐
│ Flag     │ Default │ Description      │
├──────────┼─────────┼──────────────────┤
│ --out    │ dist    │ Output directory │
├──────────┼─────────┼──────────────────┤
│ --format │ grid    │ Text table style │
└──────────┴─────────┴──────────────────┘

Use Unicode for modern developer-facing tools when you control the environment or provide a fallback.

Align values intentionally

Right-align numbers and durations:

+----------+----------+
| Step     | Duration |
+----------+----------+
| install  |     12s  |
+----------+----------+
| build    |     42s  |
+----------+----------+
| deploy   |      8s  |
+----------+----------+

Center alignment is useful for short statuses:

+----------+--------+
| Check    | Result |
+----------+--------+
| lint     |  pass  |
+----------+--------+
| tests    |  pass  |
+----------+--------+
| deploy   | review |
+----------+--------+

Most descriptive text should stay left aligned.

Provide a copy-friendly version in docs

If your documentation page explains CLI output, include a plain-text version readers can copy. Markdown tables are fine for the web page itself, but a CLI user may need the exact terminal-friendly shape.

For example:

```text
+----------+---------+------------------+
| Flag     | Default | Description      |
+----------+---------+------------------+
| --out    | dist    | Output directory |
+----------+---------+------------------+
```

Use a fenced text code block so Markdown renderers preserve spacing.

Test in a narrow terminal

Before publishing CLI docs, test the table at a narrower width. Many users work in split panes, remote shells, or embedded terminals. If a table wraps at common widths, reduce the columns or shorten the descriptions.

Checklist:

Check	Goal
80-column preview	Avoid unexpected wrapping
Monospaced rendering	Preserve alignment
ASCII fallback	Support older environments
Short descriptions	Keep the table scannable
Code fence in docs	Preserve spaces when copied

Final thought

Plain-text tables are at their best when they are modest. Use them for compact reference data, choose the style that fits the terminal, and keep the content short enough to survive real command-line widths.

										| Flag | Default | Description |
|---|---:|---|
| --out | dist | Output directory |
| --format | grid | Text table style |
									

										┌──────────┬─────────┬──────────────────┐
│ Flag     │ Default │ Description      │
├──────────┼─────────┼──────────────────┤
│ --out    │    dist │ Output directory │
├──────────┼─────────┼──────────────────┤
│ --format │    grid │ Text table style │
└──────────┴─────────┴──────────────────┘