Serious1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A)Rule ID: definition-list
Definition lists must only contain dt and dd elements
A `<dl>` contains invalid direct children that are not `<dt>`, `<dd>`, `<script>`, or `<template>`.
Rule Description
Checks direct children of <dl> to ensure valid definition-list semantics.
Why It Matters
- Assistive technologies rely on correct term/definition structure
- Invalid children break semantic relationships
- Users may hear confusing or incomplete content associations
How to Fix
Use only valid child elements and wrap extra layout containers inside a <dd> when needed.
Bad Example:
<dl> <div>Term</div> <p>Definition</p> </dl>
Good Example:
<dl> <dt>API</dt> <dd>Application Programming Interface</dd> </dl>
Common Mistakes
- Using
<div>wrappers directly under<dl> - Styling lists as definition lists without semantics
- Missing
<dd>for a provided<dt>
Testing
- Validate HTML structure for
<dl>children - Use screen reader list navigation and verify term/definition reading
- Run automated semantic checks
External Resources
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