Syntax
<dl>
<dt>Term</dt>
<dd>Description of the term.</dd>
</dl>Examples
Glossary
A simple glossary of terms and definitions.
<dl>
<dt>HTML</dt>
<dd>The standard markup language for creating web pages.</dd>
<dt>CSS</dt>
<dd>The language used to style HTML content.</dd>
</dl>Multiple Descriptions
A single term can have more than one description.
<dl>
<dt>API</dt>
<dd>Application Programming Interface</dd>
<dd>A set of rules that lets applications communicate.</dd>
</dl>Metadata List
Using a description list for key-value metadata.
<dl>
<dt>Author</dt>
<dd>Jane Smith</dd>
<dt>Published</dt>
<dd>July 16, 2026</dd>
</dl>Best practices
- Use description lists for genuine term/description pairs, like glossaries, metadata, or FAQs — not as a generic layout tool
- A dt can be followed by multiple dd elements if a term has several descriptions
- Avoid using dl purely to achieve a two-column visual layout — that is a CSS concern unless the content really is term/description pairs
- Style with CSS (e.g., display: grid or flex on dl) for custom layouts rather than default browser styling
At a glance
- Purpose
- Structure and meaning for web content
- File extension
- .html · .htm
- Runs in
- Web browsers
- Usually used with
- CSS and JavaScript
Specifications & further reading
Related HTML documentation
<ul>
The <ul> element represents an unordered list of items, typically displayed with bullet points. The order of items has no semantic meaning — use <ol> instead when sequence matters. Every item inside a <ul> must be wrapped in an <li> (list item) element. Unordered lists are commonly used for navigation menus, feature lists, and any collection of related items.<ol>
The <ol> element represents an ordered (numbered) list, where the sequence of items is meaningful. Like <ul>, every item must be wrapped in an <li> element. Browsers automatically number items starting from 1, but this can be customized using the start and reversed attributes, or a different numbering style with the type attribute. Ordered lists are ideal for step-by-step instructions, rankings, and recipes.<menu>
The <menu> element is a semantic alternative to <ul>, intended specifically for lists of commands or interactive items — like a toolbar or context menu — rather than plain content lists. Browsers currently render it identically to <ul>, but it signals different intent to assistive technology and future tooling.<li>
The <li> element represents an individual item within a list — <ul>, <ol>, or <menu>. Its rendering depends on its parent: inside <ol>, browsers add sequential numbering; inside <ul>, they add bullet points. The value attribute lets you override an item's number specifically within an ordered list.
The <ul> element represents an unordered list of items, typically displayed with bullet points. The order of items has no semantic meaning — use <ol> instead when sequence matters. Every item inside a <ul> must be wrapped in an <li> (list item) element. Unordered lists are commonly used for navigation menus, feature lists, and any collection of related items.<ol>
The <ol> element represents an ordered (numbered) list, where the sequence of items is meaningful. Like <ul>, every item must be wrapped in an <li> element. Browsers automatically number items starting from 1, but this can be customized using the start and reversed attributes, or a different numbering style with the type attribute. Ordered lists are ideal for step-by-step instructions, rankings, and recipes.<menu>
The <menu> element is a semantic alternative to <ul>, intended specifically for lists of commands or interactive items — like a toolbar or context menu — rather than plain content lists. Browsers currently render it identically to <ul>, but it signals different intent to assistive technology and future tooling.<li>
The <li> element represents an individual item within a list — <ul>, <ol>, or <menu>. Its rendering depends on its parent: inside <ol>, browsers add sequential numbering; inside <ul>, they add bullet points. The value attribute lets you override an item's number specifically within an ordered list.