Definition Term,
Definition Description

Support Key:
Dt: [2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE1|M1|N1|O2.1]
Dd: [2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE1|M1|N1|O2.1]
What is it?
Attributes
Tag Example
Parent/Content Model
Tips & Tricks
Browser Peculiarities
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End Tag:
   Optional (in HTML)
Required (in XHTML)
Standards Details:
HTML: In all 4.x DTDs
XHTML: In all 1.0 and 1.1 DTDs
XHTML Modules:
List
CSS 'display' Type:
"block"
CSS Mapping:
margin-left
Default Rendering:
Left margin on DD, none on DT
Official Docs:
HTML 4.x, XHTML 1.1
What is it?
The Definition List element represents a list of terms and corresponding definitions. Typical formatting of a definition list is flush left for the term (DT) with the definition (DD) indented on a separate line (block formatted.) An alternate method of display is to have the DD indented following the DT item on the same line to more strongly associate the term/definition relationship.

The contents of this list structure is a sequence of DT and DD terms (this is the only list structure in which the DT and DD elements are allowed to appear, and they are usually found in pairs.) Multiple DTs may be grouped with a single DD, but a DT should not be grouped with multiple consecutive DD elements following. As with other list elements, the closing </dt> and </dd> tags are optional in HTML, as they are implied by the subsequent list items or end </dl> tags.

Common Attributes
%Core%
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE3|M|N4B2|O3.5]
%Accessibility%
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE4B1|M|N6|O5]
%Events%
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE4B1|M|N6B1|O4]
%Language%
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE4|M|N6B1|O]
%Editing%
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE5.5|M|N|O]

Specific Attributes
Align
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE|M|N|O4]
Standards Details: NA
Required? No
Description:
This indicates the horizontal alignment of the content in this block element relative to the browser window.
Values: Left [DEFAULT] | Center | Right
Clear
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE|M|N|O3-6.x]
Standards Details: NA
Required? No
Description:
This attribute helps an author in situations with floating objects (images, tables, etc.) produced through the Left and Right ALIGN attributes. It allows content to stop being flowed around the floated element.
Values:
   None [DEFAULT - No special line breaking effects are applied relative to the floating element.]
   Left [breaks line after this element and moves down vertically until the left margin is clear of floated objects.]
   Right [breaks line after this element and moves down vertically until the right margin is clear of floated objects.]
   All [breaks line after this element and moves down vertically until both margins are clear of floated objects.]
Height
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE|M|N|O4-6.x]
Standards Details: NA
Required? No
Description:
This attribute explicitly specifies the height of this block element in pixels.
Values: Positive integers.
NoWrap
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE4|M|N|O]
Standards Details: NA
Required? No
Description:
This attribute specifies whether or not the content of the element will use normal HTML linebreaking conventions. If False, normal linebreaking behavior is used. If set to True, the element will not wrap to the rendering viewport unless explicit linebreaking elements are added.
Values: False (DEFAULT), True
May also be used as a standalone attribute, in which case the value is treated as TRUE.
SDAForm
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE|M|N|O]
Standards Details: NA
Required? No
Description:
This is an SGML Document Access (SDA) attribute. SDA attributes are designed to transform HTML (and other SGML-based documents) to the ICADD DTD - which is used in creating accessible documents for users with visual disabilities (rendering in Braille, large print, speech synthesis, etc.) The attribute value specifies the name of the element to convert this element to in the SDA element group (in this case the 'Term' element - "term or keyword" for DT, and 'LItem' - "list of items" for DD.)
Value:
Term for DT (Denotes 'term or keyword' in SDA.)
LItem for DD (Denotes a 'list of items' in SDA.)
Width
[2|3|3.2|4] [X1|X1.1] [IE|M|N|O4-6.x]
Standards Details: NA
Required? No
Description:
This attribute explicitly specifies the width of this block element in pixels.
Values: Positive integers.
Markup example and Tests
<dl>
<dt>Term 1</dt>
   <dd>Term 1 definition</dd>
<dt>Term 2</dt>
   <dd>Term 2 definition</dd>
</dl>
Parent Model
<dl>
Content Model
DT Content Model
%In-line Content%
DD Content Model
%In-line Content% | %Block Content%
Tips & Tricks Browser Peculiarities
Boring Copyright Stuff...