Lists for Starters -- Definition Lists

HTML for People Who Want to Learn -- Lists for Starters

Definition Lists

Definition lists are very useful when you want to make a list of terms with their definitions. Definition lists do not have to be used for only vocabulary words and the like. A definition list can also be used to name a short phrase and give its explanation.

Here is an example of a definition list

HTML
Hypertext Markup Language
Lists for Starters
Learn how to make bulleted lists, numbered lists, and definition lists
Definition List
Used when naming a term and then giving the definition or a description.

The tags that you need to use
<DL> </DL>
A definition list is denoted by <DL>.
<DT>
The definition term is denoted by <DT>.
<DD>
The definition data or definition is denoted by <DD>.

How to make a definition list

<DL>
Begin the definition list

<DL> <DT>The first term
Type <DT> before each term
(<DT> does not require a closing tag)

<DL> <DT>The first term <DD>The definition of the first term
Type <DD> before each definition
(<DD> does not require a closing tag)

<DL> <DT>The first term <DD>The definition of the first term <DT>The second term <DD>The definition of the second term <DT>The third term <DD>The definition of the third term
Insert all the terms and definitions

<DL> <DT>The first term <DD>The definition of the first term <DT>The second term <DD>The definition of the second term <DT>The third term <DD>The definition of the third term </DL>
To end the definition list, type the closing tag

For example, type this:
<DL>
<DT>WWW
<DD>World Wide Web
<DT>SGML
<DD>Standard Generalized Markup Language
<DT>HTML
<DD>Hypertext Markup Language
</DL>

This is what you'll get:

WWW
World Wide Web
SGML
Standard Generalized Markup Language
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language

Another example of a definition list can be found on my logbook page where I keep track of when I make changes to this site and what changes were made.

Last Modified: Saturday, 25-Jul-98 10:21:44 PDT
Page URL: http://geocities.datacellar.net/SiliconValley/Vista/2823/lists_dl.html