You might see <dfn> Element reference while reading someone else’s HTML, or need it while building a page of your own. Instead of memorizing a definition, look at a working example and see when the element makes sense.
The Idea in Plain English
Marks the term currently being defined, usually near its explanation.
For a reference page, pay attention to where the element is allowed, whether it needs a closing tag, and what other elements it can contain.
A Working Example
Read the sample once before copying it. Notice the element names and attribute values, then compare them with the explanation below.
<p><dfn>Semantic HTML</dfn> means choosing elements by their meaning.</p>What Each Part Does
- A paragraph keeps one idea together as readable text.
- The browser reads these lines in order and uses them to build the page or request.
- Changing the relevant value lets you test what this feature controls.
The term is identified as a definition in context.
Try It Yourself
Try replacing the example content with your own while keeping the valid HTML structure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Wrapping every occurrence of a term in dfn even when no definition is being given.
- Changing several parts of the example at once, making it difficult to see which part caused a different result.
- Choosing a tag only because its default appearance looks right, without checking whether it describes the content correctly.
Key Takeaways
- Marks the term currently being defined, usually near its explanation.
- The term is identified as a definition in context.
- Test the markup in a browser, and check accessibility and real-world behavior where relevant.