This document is a draft, and is designed to show changes from a previous version. It is presently showing added text,changed text,deleted text,[start]/[end] markers,and Issue Numbers.
Changes are displayed as follows:
HTML 4.x, XHTML 1.x
This technique relates to:
The objective of this technique is to provide the definitions of words or phrases by presenting them in a definition list. The list is marked up using the dl element. Within the list, each term is put in a separate dt element, and its definition goes in the dd element directly following it. The title attribute can be used to provide additional information about the definition list.
Using dl, dt, and dd ensures that relationships between terms and their definitions are preserved if the presentation format changes and that the list of terms and definitions is treated as a unit.
Definition lists are easiest to use when the definitions are put in alphabetical order. Definition lists are typically used in a glossary.
A list of definitions of nautical terms used on a website about sailing.
<dl title="Nautical terms"> <dt>Knot</dt> <dd> <p>A <em>knot</em> is a unit of speed equaling 1 nautical mile per hour (1.15 miles per hour or 1.852 kilometers per hour).</p> </dd> <dt>Port</dt> <dd> <p><em>Port</em> is the nautical term (used on boats and ships) that refers to the left side of a ship, as perceived by a person facing towards the bow (the front of the vessel).</p> </dd> <dt>Starboard</dt> <dd> <p><em>Starboard</em> is the nautical term (used on boats and ships) that refers to the right side of a vessel, as perceived by a person facing towards the bow (the front of the vessel).</p> </dd> </dl>
Resources are for information purposes only, no endorsement implied.
For any set of words and their definitions that have the appearance of a list:
Check that the list is contained within a dl element.
Check that each word defined in the list is contained within a dt element.
Check that the definition for each word appears in the dd element immediately following the word's dt element .
All checks above are true.