Web Development
Web Developer Guidelines
Visual Design Recommendations

Checkpoint 4.2 - Core

All terms and definitions are marked up using the definition list <dl> element

WCAG 1.0 Priority 2

WCAG Guideline 3. Use markup and style sheets and do so properly.

Definition lists consist of two parts: a term and a description. A description of a term in a definition list will be positioned below the term. Definition lists can be used to tie together any items that have a direct relationship with each other.

Requirement

All terms and definitions must be marked up as Definition Lists using the <dl> element.

Recommendation

More than one definition description (<dd>) can be used within a definition term (<dt>).

Definition lists can also contain nested ordered (<ol>) and unordered (<ul>) lists .

Checking Tool

  • Internet Explorer - AIS toolbar: Structure > List Items
  • Firefox - Web Developer's Toolbar: Outline > Custom Elements, type dl and click OK

Information Source

The original source of this information is located on the W3C web site  (www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-TECHS/#tech-list-structure)

 

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