How can I make a table with 2 column on top and 3 column below. I have tried so many times, tried to look for online tutorials but cannot find any

Question

I want to make a table with 2 column at first and 3 column in the second row. The problem is, I cannot adjust them to my desired layout. I'm sorry if my question is hard to understand. I've attached a picture link for your reference.

table, td { border: 1px solid; }

<table>
  <tr>

    <td colspan="2"></td>
    <td colspan="2"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td></td>
    <td></td>
    <td></td>

  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td colspan="2"></td>
    <td colspan="2"></td>
  </tr>
</table>

the above picture is what I want.

Answer 1

That configuration is impossible using colspan unless there was a value of 1.5 for the top and bottom rows. But there is a way by nesting a <table> within a <td colspan='2'> in the middle row. Also, it's valid HTML.

* {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

table {
  table-layout: fixed;
  width: 50%;
  margin: 20px auto;
}

table,
td {
  border: 1px solid;
  border-spacing: 0.5px;
  text-align: center;
}

td {
  width: 50%;
}

table table {
  table-layout: fixed;
  width: 100%;
  margin: 0;
  border: 0;
}

table table td {
  width: 33%;
}

<table>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>X</td>
      <td>X</td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td colspan='2' style='border: 0'>
        <table>
          <tr>
            <td>X</td>
            <td>X</td>
            <td>X</td>
          </tr>
        </table>
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>X</td>
      <td>X</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>