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dt – description list topic

dt

For technical reasons, the title of this article is not the text used to call this API. Instead, use dt

Summary

The dt element indicates a definition term within a definition list (dl).

A ****dt**** (topic) is usually followed by one or more dd (definition) elements. Several consecutive ****dt**** are attributed to the dd element that immediately follows the group.

Overview Table

DOM Interface
HTMLElement
Permitted contents [flow content](/w/index.php?title=html/concepts/flowContent&action=edit&redlink=1), but with no [header](/html/elements/header), [footer](/html/elements/footer), [sectioning content](/w/index.php?title=html/concepts/sectioningContent&action=edit&redlink=1), or [heading content](/w/index.php?title=html/concepts/headingContent&action=edit&redlink=1) descendants.
Permitted parents [dl](/html/elements/dl).
## Examples

The example shows a simple definition list with two item/description pairs.

<dl>
  <dt>Coffee</dt>
  <dd>A popular hot drink.</dd>
  <dt>Coca Cola</dt>
  <dd>One of the leading brands of a popular cold fizzy drink.</dd>
</dl>

View live example

The example shows a definition list with a single item but multiple descriptions for that item.

<dl>
  <dt>Coffee</dt>
  <dd>A popular hot drink.</dd>
  <dd>A mid brown colour</dd>
  <dd>A common social invitation</dd>
</dl>

View live example

The example shows a definition list with a single description and multiple items fitting that description.

<dl>
  <dt>Coffee</dt>
  <dt>Tea</dt>
  <dt>Vimto (in the North of England)</dt>
  <dd>A popular hot drink.</dd>
</dl>

View live example

Typical browser default CSS properties for the dt element.

display: block;

Notes

The dt element itself, when used in a dl element, does not indicate that its contents are a term being defined, but this can be indicated using the dfn element.

While HTMLDTElement is the defined DOM interface for this element, most browsers currently use HTMLElement instead.

Related specifications

HTML 5.1
W3C Working Draft
HTML 5
W3C Recommendation
HTML 4.01
W3C Recommendation

See also

Other articles

External resources

Attributions