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Table blocks are an experimental feature. Behavior and APIs may change in future releases.
Table blocks let you display structured data in a grid format within Slack messages. They work well for lists of items, reports, status dashboards, and any data that benefits from columnar organization.

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Prerequisites

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Key features

  • Multiple columns with custom headers
  • Markdown support in cells
  • Column visibility management
  • Dynamic data binding from arrays
  • Responsive layout
Common use cases: Order items with quantities and prices, task lists with status and assignees, report summaries, user rosters, inventory lists.

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Table structure

A table has:
  1. Columns — Headers and data paths
  2. Rows — Items from your sample data array
  3. Cells — Individual values; can include Markdown
Behind the scenes, table blocks are converted into Slack rich text blocks (one section per row with Markdown).

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Table vs. other blocks

FeatureTable BlockDirective + SectionsContext Blocks
Columnar layoutYesManualLimited
Dynamic rowsYesYesYes
Markdown supportYesYesLimited
Column managementYesManualN/A
Easy to maintainYesComplexSimple

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Step-by-step guide

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Step 1: Prepare your data

Ensure your sample data includes an array of objects: 
{
  "order_id": "ORD-123",
  "items": [
    {
      "name": "Laptop",
      "sku": "LAP-001",
      "quantity": 1,
      "price": 999.99,
      "status": "In Stock"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mouse",
      "sku": "MOU-005",
      "quantity": 2,
      "price": 29.99,
      "status": "In Stock"
    }
  ]
}

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Step 2: Add a table block

  1. In the template builder, click Add Block
  2. Select Table
  3. A table block appears on the canvas

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Step 3: Configure data source

In the table configuration panel:
  1. Array path: Enter the path to your data array (e.g. items, order.line_items, data.results)
  2. This tells the table where to find the rows

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Step 4: Define columns

Click Add Column for each column:
  • Header: Column title (e.g. “Product Name”)
  • Data path: Path within each item (e.g. name)
  • Format: Optional Markdown (e.g. **{{value}}** for bold)
Example columns: Product (name, bold), SKU (sku), Quantity (quantity), Price (price, ${{value}}), Status (status, italic).

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Step 5: Configure column visibility

Use Manage Columns to toggle visibility, reorder columns, and hide technical fields or simplify the view.

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Step 6: Format cell content

Use Markdown in the Format field: **{{value}}** (bold), _{{value}}_ (italic), `{{value}}` (code), [View](https://example.com/item/{{id}}) (link).

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Step 7: Row limits (optional)

Set Max Rows to cap displayed rows and Overflow Text (e.g. ... and {{remaining}} more items) when truncated.

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Step 8: Preview and test

Use the Preview tab, verify columns and formatting, and test with 0, 1, and many items.

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Configuration options

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Data path syntax

  • Simple: name
  • Nested: product.name
  • Array item: tags[0]

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Formatting

Pre-calculate formatted values in your data when possible (currency, percentages, status labels). Use ${{value}}, {{value}}%, or pre-calculated status strings in the format field.

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Empty tables

When the array is empty, no rows render. Add a fallback section before or after the table if you need a “No data” message.

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Examples

Simple product list: Array path products, columns Product (name, bold), Price (price, ${{value}}), In Stock (stock, {{value}} units). Task list: Array path tasks, columns Task, Assigned To, Status, Due Date with appropriate formatting. Sales report with links: Use Markdown in the format field, e.g. [{{value}}](https://crm.example.com/rep/{{rep_id}}) for rep names. Pre-calculate percentages in data.

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Advanced techniques

  • Dynamic visibility: Use multiple table variations or conditional logic in your backend; or use directives to conditionally include table blocks.
  • Sorting: Sort the array in your backend before sending data to the template.
  • Totals: Add a section block after the table with totals; calculate totals in your data, not in the template.
  • Pagination: Use Max Rows and overflow text; add buttons to load more or open modals with full data.
  • Export: Add a button that triggers a webhook to export table data.

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Tips

  • Keep tables concise: 5–7 columns, use Max Rows for long lists.
  • Use clear, short column headers.
  • Format currency, percentages, and dates consistently in your data.
  • Test with empty arrays, one row, and max rows exceeded.
  • Pre-calculate complex values (totals, percentages) in your backend.

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Common issues

Table not showing rows: Verify array path matches sample data; ensure the array exists and has items. Placeholder text instead of values: Check property names and nesting; data path must match item shape. Formatting not applied: Check Markdown syntax and that {{value}} is used correctly. Table too wide: Reduce columns, shorten headers, or hide less important columns. Overflow text not showing: Set both Max Rows and Overflow Text; use {{remaining}} for the count.

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Next steps

Sample data

Structure array data for tables.

Directives

Use #each for dynamic rows and conditional blocks.

Blocks

Other block types and layout options.

Template design

Best practices for templates and data.