Images can be aligned with text using the align attribute in the img src tag. But tables will allow you to more precisely align images within and in relation to text.

You can place text next to a picture by creating a one row, two cell table without a border (no frame lines). Text and picture will be centered vertically within their respective cells. Cellspacing will let you make sure that picture and text are not too close together.
Use of the valign attribute in the td tag will let you set the picture and text as top or bottom aligned, just as the img src align does.


And by using the width attribute in the td tag, you can force the text and picture into a more condensed format. Allowing for some intriguing presentations if you also play a bit with the valign.


Whereas you did not have any real control as to where the text would break, or what word would end up at each side of an embedded picture when you used left or right align in the img src tag, since different browsers may wrap text at different points.
With tables you can determine exactly what text goes where in relation to the picture. This is done by dividing the text up and figuring out which 'box' to put what text in, and which one gets the picture.
Colspan lets you have uninterrupted text above and below the row with divided text and picture. This is a bit more complex, but it also gives the person creating the web page control of exactly how the page will look, no matter what browser will be looking at it.


Here is how the above table is divided up (same table but with a border so the lines show):
Whereas you did not have any real control as to where the text would break, or what word would end up at each side of an embedded picture when you used left or right align in the img src tag, since different browsers may wrap text at different points.
With tables you can determine exactly what text goes where in relation to the picture. This is done by dividing the text up and figuring out which 'box' to put what text in, and which one gets the picture.
Colspan lets you have uninterrupted text above and below the row with divided text and picture. This is a bit more complex, but it also gives the person creating the web page control of exactly how the page will look, no matter what browser will be looking at it.


And if you want a fancy 'frame' border around a picture, you can do it with a one row, one cell table, playing with a pixel or colored border. And now the border color can be something other than just black!