UI Patterns for tables with many columns

1. How many columns does a UI have?
2. What some alternative ways to present tabular data instead of the standard table in the UI?

How many columns does a UI have?

Many popular frameworks use a grid system of 12 equal-widths column. The number 12 is the most easily divisible among reasonably small numbers; it's possible to have 12, 6, 4, 3, 2 or 1 evenly spaced columns.

What some alternative ways to present tabular data instead of the standard table in the UI?

Also another method would be to use graphical elements like Pie Charts, graph bars etc.