Why is a database table called a table?

Question

I pondered the question and the most sensible metaphor I found:

a table is the surface on which elements are placed

It seems a little broad, but perhaps it was the idea of ​​calling a concept. I also searched google and wikipedia and did not find a record about the beginning of this term.

Answer 1

Table is a word with more than one meaning. In this case, the table is a kind of chart with information arranged in rows.

Wikipedia says:

"Historical attitude to furniture

In medieval counting houses, tables were covered with a piece of checkered fabric to count the money. The Treasury is an archaic term for an English institution that comprised money owed to the monarch. Thus, chess tables of stacks of coins represent a concrete realization of this information. "

Answer 2

Here is a quote from the etymology of online : “The meaning of the“ arrangement of numbers or other digits for convenience ”is written from the late 14th century (for example, the table of contents, mid 15c.).

This is not very useful, but ... People tend to name things and phenomena. What for? Therefore, we can distinguish one from the other. (This is just a quick generalization.)

A table (and a table) are excellent graphic terms to mean a collection of objects / things in sight. Graphics mean attitude to furniture (table: "you can see objects on the table"). Or in the case of spreadsheets: a lot of numbers and text distributed on a sheet (s) of paper.

These are just a couple of points of view from a non-native English speaker. A cheap answer to the original, why the question will be: because someone called it a table, while others agreed. This is a good term IMHO ...