WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Acceptable use of the HTML DL element?

for

From: Simius Puer
Date: Jun 19, 2010 7:30PM

As abrasive a response as I've come to expect from this quarter!

That's not semantically correct, as none of DD elements provides a
> definition of "apple". In the broader context, DL is semantically
> appropriate, but almost anything is.
>

As I said - "possibly not the clearest example" and certainly an
over-simplicity but this was purely for illustrative purposes. However, "the
definition description element contains data that describes a definition
term" - I think you would have a hard time arguing that I have not done
this.

Contrary to what you seem to imply, one can nest DL elements, much the same
> way you can nest UL elements. You can have a DL element inside a DD element.
> I don't think it makes much sense, but it is syntactically allowed and
> creates different amounts of nesting in visual rendering.
>

Apologies, you are technically correct - at least as far as validation is
concerned. But validity has little to do with accessibility - a nested DL
is likely to cause more confusion than the more commonly nested UL. Also,
from a coding perspective the nested DL is code-heavy and also a lot harder
to style due to poor cross-browser handling of this element, especially when
nested.


I have no problems with debate (or criticism for that matter) but at least
be constructive and try to keep your tone respectful, not caustic.