{"id":45333,"date":"2026-07-17T16:23:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T10:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inogic.com\/blog\/?p=45333"},"modified":"2026-07-17T16:28:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T10:58:11","slug":"modern-data-grid-vs-gallery-vs-data-table-in-power-apps-canvas-apps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inogic.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/modern-data-grid-vs-gallery-vs-data-table-in-power-apps-canvas-apps\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern Data Grid vs Gallery vs Data Table in Power Apps Canvas Apps"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ModernBuilding business applications in Power Apps Canvas Apps<\/strong> often involves displaying and managing large amounts of data. Traditionally, developers have relied on classic controls such as Gallery<\/strong>, Data Table<\/strong>, Forms<\/strong>, and Buttons<\/strong> to build these experiences.<\/p>\n

While these controls are fully functional, creating a modern and responsive user interface often requires significant customization. Developers frequently spend additional time configuring layouts, aligning controls, writing formulas, and applying custom styling to achieve a polished user experience.<\/p>\n

To simplify app development, Microsoft introduced Modern Controls<\/strong>, which provide a Fluent UI experience with improved accessibility, responsive layouts, and a consistent design language across applications.<\/p>\n

One of the most valuable additions is the Modern Data Grid<\/strong>, which makes displaying business data easier while significantly reducing development effort.<\/p>\n

Why Choose the Modern Data Grid?<\/h3>\n

The Modern Data Grid offers several advantages over traditional approaches:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Fluent UI design that matches Microsoft 365 applications<\/li>\n
  • Responsive layout with minimal configuration<\/li>\n
  • Multi-row selection<\/li>\n
  • Automatic row selectors<\/li>\n
  • Built-in sorting<\/li>\n
  • Built-in search<\/li>\n
  • Column sorting and resizing<\/li>\n
  • Better accessibility<\/li>\n
  • Cleaner and more maintainable apps<\/li>\n
  • Less custom Power Fx<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Prerequisites<\/h3>\n

    Before getting started, make sure Modern Controls are enabled in your Canvas App.<\/p>\n

    Navigate to:<\/p>\n

    Settings \u2192 Updates \u2192 Enable Modern controls and themes
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Modern<\/p>\n

    Real-World Scenario<\/h3>\n

    Let’s build a simple Account Management Canvas App<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    The app displays a list of customer accounts with the following information:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Account Name<\/li>\n
    • Account Number<\/li>\n
    • Main Phone<\/li>\n
    • City<\/li>\n
    • Status<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      We’ll first build the application using classic controls and then modernize it using Modern Controls.<\/p>\n

      Displaying Data Before Modern Controls<\/h3>\n

      Option 1 \u2013 Gallery<\/h3>\n

      The Gallery control has always been a popular choice for displaying business data because it offers complete flexibility over the layout.<\/p>\n

      For our Account Management app, the gallery displays:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      Account Name\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Main Phone\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 City\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Status<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      Although the Gallery works well, creating a table-like experience requires considerable manual effort.<\/p>\n

      Developers typically need to:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Create column headers manually<\/li>\n
      • Align every label with its corresponding header<\/li>\n
      • Configure row spacing<\/li>\n
      • Add alternating row colors<\/li>\n
      • Implement sorting and filtering<\/li>\n
      • Handle responsive layouts<\/li>\n
      • Implement filtering<\/li>\n
      • Implement sorting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        For example, sorting the accounts alphabetically requires a formula similar to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Sort(<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Accounts,<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ‘Account Name’<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        )<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        As the application grows, maintaining this layout becomes increasingly difficult.<\/p>\n

        Note:<\/strong> A Gallery does not automatically generate column headers. Developers must manually create and align each header label to match the data displayed inside the gallery.<\/p>\n

        \"Modern<\/p>\n

        Option 2 \u2013 Data Table<\/h3>\n

        Another common approach is the Data Table<\/strong> control.<\/p>\n

        Unlike the Gallery, it automatically displays data in rows and columns.<\/p>\n

        \"Modern<\/p>\n

        Although it provides a tabular layout, it comes with several limitations:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Limited styling options<\/li>\n
        • Limited customization<\/li>\n
        • Doesn’t fully match Fluent UI<\/li>\n
        • Limited interaction<\/li>\n
        • Fewer built-in configurable behaviors<\/li>\n
        • Less responsive than Modern Controls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          While the Data Table improves the presentation of data, developers often find it restrictive when designing modern business applications.<\/p>\n

          A Better Approach \u2013 Modern Data Grid<\/h3>\n

          The Modern Data Grid<\/strong> combines the structured layout of a table with the Fluent UI experience expected in modern Microsoft applications.<\/p>\n

          Simply insert:<\/p>\n

          Insert \u2192 Modern \u2192 Data Grid<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Connect it to the Accounts<\/strong> table and choose the required columns.<\/p>\n

          \"Modern<\/p>\n

          Immediately you’ll notice:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Fluent UI styling<\/li>\n
          • Better spacing<\/li>\n
          • Responsive layout<\/li>\n
          • Built-in search<\/li>\n
          • Built-in sorting<\/li>\n
          • Multi-row selection<\/li>\n
          • Automatic column headers<\/li>\n
          • Professional appearance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            The result closely resembles the experience users already know from Microsoft Lists<\/strong> and Dynamics 365<\/strong>, making the application more intuitive and visually appealing.<\/p>\n

            Built-in Features That Save Development Time<\/h3>\n

            Beyond its modern appearance, the Modern Data Grid includes several built-in capabilities that developers would otherwise need to implement manually when using classic controls like a Gallery.<\/p>\n

            The following properties can be enabled directly from the Properties<\/strong> pane without writing additional Power Fx formulas.<\/p>\n

            \"Modern<\/p>\n

            These include:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Searchable<\/li>\n
            • Sortable<\/li>\n
            • MultiSelect<\/li>\n
            • Show Selector<\/li>\n
            • Show Headers<\/li>\n
            • Required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              These capabilities significantly reduce development effort while providing a familiar Microsoft 365 experience.<\/p>\n

              Data Table vs Modern Data Grid<\/h3>\n

              Built-in Search<\/u><\/h3>\n

              Data Table<\/strong><\/p>\n

              If users need to search records, developers must create:<\/p>\n

                \n
              • A Text Input<\/li>\n
              • A filtering formula<\/li>\n
              • Maintain the search logic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Example:<\/p>\n

                Search(
                \nAccounts,
                \ntxtSearch.Text,
                \n‘Account Name’
                \n)<\/p>\n

                or<\/p>\n

                Filter(
                \nAccounts,
                \nStartsWith(
                \n‘Account Name’,
                \ntxtSearch.Text
                \n)
                \n)<\/p>\n

                \"Modern<\/p>\n

                Modern Data Grid<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Simply enable the Searchable<\/strong> property.<\/p>\n

                A search box is automatically displayed above the grid, allowing users to quickly search records.<\/p>\n

                \"Modern<\/p>\n

                Sorting<\/u><\/h3>\n

                Data Table<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Sorting typically requires additional formulas or custom implementation depending on the scenario.<\/p>\n

                Modern Data Grid<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Enable the Sortable<\/strong> property.<\/p>\n

                Users can sort records directly by clicking the column headers.<\/p>\n

                No additional implementation is required.<\/p>\n

                Multi-Row Selection<\/u><\/h3>\n

                Data Table<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Selecting multiple records requires custom logic or additional controls, depending on the application’s requirements.<\/p>\n

                Modern Data Grid<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Enable MultiSelect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

                Users can immediately select multiple rows.<\/p>\n

                Required Selection<\/u><\/h3>\n

                Data Table<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Developers must manually validate whether a row has been selected before performing an action.<\/p>\n

                Modern Data Grid<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Enable Required<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

                The control can enforce that a record is selected before continuing.<\/p>\n

                Best Practices<\/h3>\n
                  \n
                • Use the Modern Data Grid<\/strong> for displaying structured business data from Dataverse, SharePoint, or SQL, especially when you need features like search, sorting, and multi-row selection.<\/li>\n
                • Use a Data Table<\/strong> for simple read-only tabular data where minimal customization is required.<\/li>\n
                • Use a Gallery<\/strong> when records require a highly customized layout, such as cards, images, or dashboards.<\/li>\n
                • Prefer Modern Controls<\/strong> for new Canvas Apps to provide a consistent Fluent UI experience with less development effort.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Conclusion<\/h3>\n

                  The Modern Data Grid is a significant improvement over traditional controls for displaying structured business data in Canvas Apps. While Galleries<\/strong> offer maximum flexibility for custom layouts and Data Tables<\/strong> provide a simple tabular view, both often require additional customization or Power Fx formulas to support common business requirements.<\/p>\n

                  With the Modern Data Grid<\/strong>, many of these capabilities\u2014such as search, sorting, multi-row selection, row selectors, and required selection<\/strong>\u2014are available through built-in properties, reducing development effort while delivering a modern Fluent UI experience.<\/p>\n

                  Choosing the right control depends on your scenario. Use a Gallery<\/strong> for highly customized layouts, a Data Table<\/strong> for basic read-only data, and the Modern Data Grid<\/strong> when you need an interactive, professional, and feature-rich tabular experience. By adopting Modern Controls in new Canvas Apps, developers can build applications that are easier to maintain, more consistent, and provide a familiar Microsoft 365 user experience.<\/p>\n

                  Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n

                  What is the Modern Data Grid in Power Apps Canvas Apps?<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  The Modern Data Grid is a modern control in Power Apps Canvas Apps that displays business data in a structured, interactive table. It offers built-in features such as search, sorting, multi-row selection, automatic column headers, and Fluent UI styling, helping developers create professional applications with less customization.<\/p>\n

                  What is the difference between the Modern Data Grid, Gallery, and Data Table in Power Apps?<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  The Gallery provides maximum flexibility for custom layouts but requires manual configuration for headers, sorting, and filtering. The Data Table offers a simple tabular view but has limited customization options. The Modern Data Grid combines a structured table layout with built-in search, sorting, responsive design, and Fluent UI, making it the preferred choice for modern business applications.<\/p>\n

                  When should you use the Modern Data Grid in Power Apps?<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Use the Modern Data Grid when your app needs to display structured business data with features like built-in search, sorting, row selection, and a responsive Microsoft 365-style interface. It is ideal for Dataverse, SharePoint, and SQL data sources.<\/p>\n

                  What are the main benefits of using the Modern Data Grid in Power Apps?<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  The Modern Data Grid reduces development effort by providing built-in search, sorting, row selection, automatic headers, responsive layouts, improved accessibility, and a modern Microsoft Fluent UI experience.<\/p>\n

                  What is the best control for displaying business data in Power Apps?<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  The best control depends on your requirements. Use the Modern Data Grid for interactive tabular data, the Gallery for customized layouts, and the Data Table for simple read-only data displays. For most modern business applications, the Modern Data Grid offers the best balance of functionality, usability, and maintainability.<\/p>\n