MD056 - Table Column Count
Table column count should be consistent.
Why This Rule Exists
All rows in a table should have the same number of columns. Mismatched column counts cause rendering issues and indicate data entry errors.
Examples
Incorrect
| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1 | Cell 2 |
| Cell 1 | Cell 2 | Cell 3 | Cell 4 |
Row 2 has too few columns, row 3 has too many.
Correct
| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1 | Cell 2 | Cell 3 |
| Cell 4 | Cell 5 | Cell 6 |
Empty Cells
| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1 | | Cell 3 |
| Cell 4 | Cell 5 | |
Configuration
This rule has no configuration options.
When to Disable
- Tables intentionally using colspan-like behavior
- Content from sources with non-standard table formats
Rule Details
- Rule ID: MD056
- Aliases: table-column-count
- Category: Structure
- Severity: Error
- Auto-fix: Yes (adds empty cells)