Learning Resources
List Basics
HTML offers authors several mechanisms for specifying lists of information. All lists must contain one or more list elements. Lists may contain:
- Unordered information.
- Ordered information.
- Definitions.
The previous list, for example, is an unordered list, created with the UL element:
- Unordered information.
- Ordered information.
- Definitions.
An ordered list, created using the OL element, should contain information where order should be emphasized, as in a recipe:
- Mix dry ingredients thoroughly.
- Pour in wet ingredients.
- Mix for 10 minutes.
- Bake for one hour at 300 degrees.
Definition lists, created using the DL element, generally consist of a series of term/definition pairs (although definition lists may have other applications). Thus, when advertising a product, one might use a definition list:
- Lower cost
- The new version of this product costs significantly less than the previous one!
- Easier to use
- We've changed the product so that it's much easier to use!
- Safe for kids
- You can leave your kids alone in a room with this product and they won't get hurt (not a guarantee).
defined in HTML as:
- Lower cost
- The new version of this product costs significantly less than the previous one!
- Easier to use
- We've changed the product so that it's much easier to use!
- Safe for kids
- You can leave your kids alone in a room with this product and they won't get hurt (not a guarantee).
Lists may also be nested and different list types may be used together, as in the following example, which is a definition list that contains an unordered list (the ingredients) and an ordered list (the procedure):
- The ingredients:
-
- 100 g. flour
- 10 g. sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 eggs
- salt, pepper
- The procedure:
-
- Mix dry ingredients thoroughly.
- Pour in wet ingredients.
- Mix for 10 minutes.
- Bake for one hour at 300 degrees.