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<dt>

The <dt> element represents a term or name in a description list (<dl>). It identifies the item being described, which is then explained by one or more <dd> (description details) elements that follow it. Multiple <dt> elements can be grouped together when several terms share the same description.

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Syntax | Attributes | Examples | When to Use | Related Elements

This page was last updated on 2025-11-27

Syntax

<dl>
<dt>Term name</dt>
<dd>Description of the term</dd>
</dl>

Attributes

class - CSS class name for styling
id - Unique identifier for the element
style - Inline CSS styles
title - Advisory information (tooltip)
lang - Language of the content
dir - Text direction (ltr or rtl)

Examples

Basic term and description:

<dl>
<dt>Bandwidth</dt>
<dd>The maximum rate of data transfer across a network.</dd>
</dl>

Multiple terms for one description:

<dl>
  <dt>Colour</dt>
  <dt>Color</dt>
  <dd>The property of objects that produces different sensations on the eye.</dd>
</dl>

FAQ-style implementation:

<dl>
  <dt>What is HTML?</dt>
  <dd>HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the standard language for creating web pages.</dd>
  <dt>Do I need special software?</dt>
  <dd>No, you can write HTML in any plain text editor.</dd>
</dl>

When to Use

Use the <dt> element to mark up the term, name, or question in a description list. It must be used within a <dl> element and should be followed by at least one <dd> element that provides the description. The <dt> element should contain concise terms or names, not lengthy content.

Common uses include glossary terms, FAQ questions, metadata labels (like "Author" or "Date"), and any scenario where you are defining or describing named items. The closing </dt> tag is technically optional but should be included for clarity. By default, browsers display <dt> content in bold or with left alignment, but this can be customized with CSS.