HTML Description List Tags Explained | Generated by AI
Question: What does <dl>, <dt>, and <dd> mean in HTML?
Answer:
In HTML, <dl>, <dt>, and <dd> are tags used together to create a description list (formerly called a definition list). This is the standard way to mark up glossaries, metadata, question-and-answer pairs, or any list where each item has a term and one or more descriptions/details.
| Tag | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
<dl> |
Description List | The container element for the entire list. |
<dt> |
Description Term | The term, name, or title being described (like a glossary word or question). |
<dd> |
Description Details | The description, definition, or details for the preceding <dt>. You can have multiple <dd> for one <dt>. |
Example
<dl>
<dt>HTML</dt>
<dd>HyperText Markup Language – the standard language for creating web pages.</dd>
<dt>CSS</dt>
<dd>Cascading Style Sheets – used to style and layout web pages.</dd>
<dd>Can be written inline, internally, or in external files.</dd>
<dt>JavaScript</dt>
<dd>A programming language that adds interactivity to websites.</dd>
</dl>
This renders as a clean, semantic list (browsers usually indent the <dd> content):
HTML
HyperText Markup Language – the standard language for creating web pages.
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets – used to style and layout web pages.
Can be written inline, internally, or in external files.
JavaScript
A programming language that adds interactivity to websites.
Using these tags instead of plain <ul> or <div>s is better for accessibility (screen readers announce them as definition lists) and SEO.