Ablelytics
Back to All Rules
Serious1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A)Rule ID: dlitem

Definition list items must be inside a definition list

`<dt>` or `<dd>` elements are used outside a `<dl>` container.

Rule Description

Checks for orphaned definition terms/descriptions not nested in a valid definition list.

Why It Matters

  • Semantic relationship between terms and definitions is lost
  • Screen reader output becomes misleading
  • Document structure becomes invalid and harder to parse

How to Fix

Place <dt> and <dd> only within <dl> and pair terms with definitions.

Bad Example:

<dt>Price</dt>
<dd>$99</dd>

Good Example:

<dl>
  <dt>Price</dt>
  <dd>$99</dd>
</dl>

Common Mistakes

  • Copying dt/dd styles into generic containers
  • Splitting terms and descriptions into different lists
  • Omitting the parent <dl>

Testing

  • Validate markup nesting for dt/dd
  • Inspect semantic tree in browser tools
  • Test reading order with a screen reader

External Resources

Automate Your Accessibility Testing

Our tool automatically checks for this rule and hundreds of other accessibility issues.

Start Your Free Trial