<dfn>
A term being defined at this point in the text, that is, the first, explanatory use of the concept.
- Display
- inline
- Closing tag
- Required
- Permitted content
- Phrasing content without other
<dfn>elements
Example
#<p>A <dfn>variable</dfn> is a named spot in memory where a program stores a value, for example a player's score.</p>Definition and usage
#The <dfn> element marks a term you’re defining right there. The definition has to be in the immediate surroundings: in the same paragraph, in the same <dt> and <dd> pair of a definition list, or in the section that contains the term. Browsers display <dfn> in italics.
Mark only the place where the concept is explained with it, not every occurrence of it. If the element’s content is an abbreviation or another form of the term, give the full wording in the global title attribute.
It’s worth giving the definition an id. You can then link to the term further in the text, and the reader can jump back to the explanation with one click. That’s how convenient glossaries are built.
Syntax
#<p><dfn>Term</dfn> is…</p>Attributes
#This element has no attributes of its own. It supports the global attributes, such as class, id and hidden.
More examples
#<p>
The <dfn id="def-dom"><abbr title="Document Object Model">DOM</abbr></dfn>
is the tree of objects the browser builds from a page's HTML code.
</p>
<p>Scripts change how a page looks by modifying the <a href="#def-dom">DOM</a>.</p>Default CSS
#Most browsers display this element with these default styles:
dfn {
font-style: italic;
}Browser support
#Widely available
Works in all modern browsers, phones included. You can use it without worry.
- Chrome
- Edge
- Firefox
- Safari
Good practices
#- Mark only the defining occurrence of the concept, usually the first one.
- Give the definition an
idand link to it from later in the text. - In glossaries, put
<dfn>inside<dt>, and the explanation in<dd>.
Related entries
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