what is dt?

Thanks to the recent changes in the HTML5 specification, coming about 
because of the "super friends" suggestions, we now have an element in 
the HTML 5 specification whose semantics is so badly overridden that it 
is virtually useless.

With recent changes, legend is no longer used as caption for the figure 
element. I agree with this, as it overrides previous semantic 
declarations of the element, and can cause confusion as people move from 
HTML4 to HTML5. However, when you see what replaces it, you have to wonder.

It seems now, rather than legend, we're using--again--the dt element!

So now, rather than "dt" being a definition term, it's become, well I 
don't know what it's become. Something.

It's used in its previous incarnation, as part of a definition list:

<dl>
 <dt lang="en-US"> <dfn>color</dfn> </dt>
 <dt lang="en-GB"> <dfn>colour</dfn> </dt>
 <dd> A sensation which (in humans) derives from the ability of
 the fine structure of the eye to distinguish three differently
 filtered analyses of a view. </dd>
</dl>

And now, seemingly, its a part of the so-called "details" element, whose 
purpose is, well, I'm trying to figure that one out, "The details 
element represents additional information or controls which the user can 
obtain on demand", not being particularly helpful. I'm assuming its a 
pure Ajax type thing, meant to be exposed when something is clicked.

Anyway, dt within details is supposed to provide the summary of the 
details. So, I guess it's now "definition term" and "details term".

But wait, there's more.

Now, dt is used in figure, as caption:

<p>In <a href="#l4">listing 4</a> we see the primary core interface
API declaration.</p>
<figure id="l4">
 <dt>Listing 4. The primary core interface API declaration.</dt>
 <dd>
  <pre><code>interface PrimaryCore {
  boolean verifyDataLine();
  void sendData(in sequence&lt;byte> data);
  void initSelfDestruct();
}</code></pre>
 </dd>
</figure>
<p>The API is designed to use UTF-8.</p>


I guess dt means...actually, I give up. I don't think that dt means 
anything anymore.

Shelley

Received on Tuesday, 15 September 2009 16:07:21 UTC