You might see <dl> 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
Creates a list of term-and-description pairs using dt and dd. It is useful for glossaries and metadata summaries.
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.
<dl>
<dt>CPU</dt>
<dd>Processor that executes instructions.</dd>
<dt>RAM</dt>
<dd>Temporary working memory.</dd>
</dl>What Each Part Does
- A dl groups terms with their descriptions.
- A dt identifies a term or name.
- A dd provides the matching description.
Each technical term has an associated definition.
Try It Yourself
Try replacing the example content with your own while keeping the valid HTML structure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using a description list when a table is needed for many comparable columns.
- 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
- Creates a list of term-and-description pairs using dt and dd. It is useful for glossaries and metadata summaries.
- Each technical term has an associated definition.
- Test the markup in a browser, and check accessibility and real-world behavior where relevant.