Description

The dd element represents a value in a description list (dl). These values or definitions are usually accompanied by a name or term (dt) for which they provide a description. This type of lists can be used for different purposes like metadata topics and values, questions and answers, glossaries, vocabulary lists, etc.

In name-value lists, there could be more than one term for a single definition and viceversa. These variants are arbitrary and left to the author's consideration.

Examples

Our first example consist of a glossary of electronic terms represented by the elements dl, dt and dd. Here you can see a description list in action and how each term (dt) is associated with a definition (dd).

<h1>Glossary of electronic terms</h1>
<dl>
  <dt>Battery</dt>
  <dd>A bank of individual cells connected together to provide the required voltage.</dd>
  <dt>Algorithm</dt>
  <dd>A set of mathematical rules applied to an input. Generally used to describe a section of computer code which performs a specific function.</dd>
  <dt>Amplifier</dt>
  <dd>An electronic device which generates a high power signal based on the information supplied by a lower powered signal.</dd>
</dl>

Now, we'll show a second glossary of electronic terms where one definition is declared for two terms ("amp" and "ampere") and one term ("bypass") gets two definitions.

<h2>Glossary of electronic terms</h2>
<dl>
  <dt>Amp</dt>
  <dt>Ampere</dt>
  <dd>The basic unit of current flow.</dd>
  <dt>Bypass</dt>
  <dd>The practice of using (typically) low value capacitors to conduct high frequency signals either to earth or around an amplifying device. Ensures that power supplies remain low impedance up to very high frequencies to ensure that circuits remain stable.</dd>
  <dd>An arrangement commonly using switches or relays to route a signal around a piece of circuitry. Bypass switches are very common with effects units, whether designed for studio, live performance or individual musicians (guitar effects pedals for example).</dd>
</dl>

Attributes

Events