02. Lists and Types

Introduction

HTML provides three types of lists for organizing content: unordered lists, ordered lists, and definition lists. Each type serves a specific purpose and helps create structured, accessible content. Understanding when to use each list type is important for creating well-organized web pages.

List Types

Unordered Lists (ul)

For items without a specific order:

<ul>
    <li>Item 1</li>
    <li>Item 2</li>
    <li>Item 3</li>
</ul>

Ordered Lists (ol)

For items with a specific order:

<ol>
    <li>First step</li>
    <li>Second step</li>
    <li>Third step</li>
</ol>

Definition Lists (dl)

For term-definition pairs:

<dl>
    <dt>Term</dt>
    <dd>Definition</dd>
</dl>

When to Use Each

Use ul for

• Navigation menus
• Feature lists
• Unordered collections
• Bullet points

Use ol for

• Step-by-step instructions
• Rankings
• Sequential processes
• Numbered items

Use dl for

• Glossaries
• Metadata
• Term definitions
• Key-value pairs

References

• MDN Web Docs - HTML Lists