<dl> / <dt> / <dd>

The <dl>, <dt>, and <dd> tags are used to create a description list, pairing terms (<dt>) with their corresponding descriptions (<dd>).

Syntax

<dl>
  <dt>Term 1</dt>
  <dd>Description of term 1</dd>
  <dt>Term 2</dt>
  <dd>Description of term 2</dd>
</dl>

Tag Reference

Tag	Description
<dl>	A container element that wraps the entire description list. Stands for Definition List.
<dt>	Specifies the term being defined. Stands for Definition Term.
<dd>	Provides the description or definition for the preceding `<dt>`. Stands for Definition Description.

Sample Code

<dl>
  <!-- Definition list of programming terms -->
  <dt>Variable</dt>
  <dd>A named container that stores a value. You can change the value any number of times during a program.</dd>

  <dt>Function</dt>
  <dd>A named block of code that performs a specific task. You can call it whenever needed and reuse it.</dd>

  <dt>Array</dt>
  <dd>A data structure that lets you store and manage multiple values under a single variable.</dd>
</dl>

Output

The description list is rendered in the browser. The <dt> (term) appears at the normal text level, and the <dd> (description) is indented slightly beneath it.

Variable
    A named container that stores a value. You can change the value any number of times during a program.
Function
    A named block of code that performs a specific task. You can call it whenever needed and reuse it.
Array
    A data structure that lets you store and manage multiple values under a single variable.

Overview

Unlike a simple bullet list (<ul> / <li>), <dl> is designed to express **paired structures** such as term–definition, question–answer, or name–value. It is commonly used for FAQs and glossaries.

You can follow a single <dt> with multiple <dd> elements. You can also write multiple consecutive <dt> elements and close them with a single <dd>. However, the direct children of <dl> must be <dt>, <dd>, or (in HTML 5.2 and later) a <div> used for grouping — no other tags are allowed as direct children.

For <ul> and <ol>, see the ul / ol / li page.