Description lists

Description lists provide a structured way to present term-definition pairs using specialized HTML elements. The <dl> element serves as the container for the entire description list.

Within description lists, two distinct elements work together to create meaningful relationships. The <dt> (definition term) element marks terms being defined, while the <dd> (definition description) element contains the explanation or definition of each term. Each term can have multiple descriptions if needed.

This semantic structure is particularly valuable for glossaries, dictionaries, FAQs, and metadata presentations. Screen readers announce these relationships specifically, helping users understand the connection between terms and their definitions without relying on visual formatting.