Re: XHTML2 dt/dd Nesting

Alexander Savenkov <w3@hotbox.ru> writes:

> To solve the problem of 'dt'/'dd' nesting (i.e. the lack of connection
> between the terms and the descriptions inside a definition list) the
> following construction could be allowed:
>
>  <dl>
>   <li>
>    <dt>Term 1</dt>
>    <dd>Def 1</dd>
>   </li>
>  . . .

But the content model of "dl" has always been (dt|dd)+ rather than
(dt,dd)+ and, indeed, there is common usage of "dl" that involves
only "dd" subelements.

In fact, with the absence of "menu" and "dir" in html4.01-strict and
all of the W3C recommended versions of XHTML, the dd-only usage of
"dl" is the only choice for simple lists.

In particular, it is both correct and sensible for the visual
effect of "hanging indentation" to
use:
  <dl>
    <dd>
      <p>...</p>
      <p>...</p>
      ...
    </dd>
  </dl>

I hasten to point out that in LaTeX markup "hanging indentation" is
correctly created with a one-item simple list.

                                    -- Bill

Received on Sunday, 5 October 2003 14:11:06 UTC