A definition list is a list of terms and corresponding definitions. Definition lists are typically formatted with the term flush-left and the definition, formatted paragraph style, indented after the term.

Example of use:

<DL>
<DT>&lt;PRE&gt;<DD>Allows for the presentation of preformatted text.
<DT>&lt;P&gt;<DD>This is used to define paragraph blocks.
</DL>

Would render as:

<PRE>

Allows for the presentation of preformatted text

<P>

This is used to define paragraph blocks

If the <DT> term does not fit in the <DT> column (one third of the display area), it may be extended across the page with the <DD> section moved to the next line, or it may be wrapped onto successive lines of the left hand column.

The opening list element must be <DL> and must be immediately followed by the first term (<DT>).

The definition list type can take the COMPACT attribute, which suggests that a compact rendering be used, because the list items are small and/or the entire list is large.

Unless you provide the COMPACT attribute, the HTML user agent may leave white space between successive <DT>, <DD> pairs. The COMPACT attribute may also reduce the width of the left-hand (<DT>) column.

<DL COMPACT>
<DT>&lt;PRE&gt;<DD>Allows for the presentation of preformatted text.
<DT>&lt;P&gt;<DD>This is used to define paragraph blocks.
</DL>

<DL>, <DT> and <DD> can also take the CLASS, ID and STYLE attributes to allow style sheet definitions to be applied to them. For more details of these attributes, see the Style Sheets topic.

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