DL - Definition Lists

Definition lists: the DL, DT, and DD elements

Definition lists vary only slightly from other types of lists in that list items consist of two parts: a term and a description. The term is given by the DT element and is restricted to inline content. The description is given with a DD element that contains block-level content.

Definition lists, created using the DL element, generally consist of a series of term/definition pairs (although definition lists may have other applications). Thus, when advertising a product, one might use a definition list:

<DL>
<DT><STRONG>Lower cost</STRONG>
<DD>The new version of this product costs significantly less than the
previous one!
<DT><STRONG>Easier to use</STRONG>
<DD>We've changed the product so that it's much easier to use!
<DT><STRONG>Safe for kids</STRONG>
<DD>You can leave your kids alone in a room with this product and
they won't get hurt (not a guarantee).
</DL>

Lower cost

The new version of this product costs significantly less than the previous one!

Easier to use

We've changed the product so that it's much easier to use!

Safe for kids

You can leave your kids alone in a room with this product and they won't get hurt (not a guarantee).

The rendering of a definition list also depends on the user agent. The example:

<DL>
  <DT>Dweeb
  <DD>young excitable person who may mature
    into a <EM>Nerd</EM> or <EM>Geek</EM>
  <DT>Hacker
  <DD>a clever programmer
  <DT>Nerd
  <DD>technically bright but socially inept person
</DL>

might be rendered as follows:

Dweeb
       young excitable person who may mature into a Nerd or Geek
Hacker
       a clever programmer
Nerd
       technically bright but socially inept person

<DL>
   <DT>Center
   <DT>Centre
   <DD> A point equidistant from all points
              on the surface of a sphere.

   <DD> In some field sports, the player who
              holds the middle position on the field, court,
              or forward line.
</DL>

Another application of DL, for example, is for marking up dialogues, with each DT naming a speaker, and each DD containing his or her words.

See Page 2 for changing the bullets and colours, and Page 3 for spacing around the list
Lists is continued with a discussion on markers.