HTML <dfn> Tag
Example
Mark up the defining instance of a term:
<p><dfn>HTML</dfn> is the standard markup language
for creating web
pages.</p>
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Definition and Usage
The <dfn> tag represents the defining instance of a term in HTML.
The defining instance is often the first use of a term in a document.
The nearest parent of the <dfn> tag must also contain the definition/explanation for the term inside <dfn>.
The term inside the <dfn> tag can be any of the following:
1. The content of the <dfn> element (without a title attribute):
Example
<p><dfn>HTML</dfn> is the standard markup language
for creating web
pages.</p>
Try it yourself »
2. The title attribute of the <dfn> tag:
Example
<p><dfn title="HyperText Markup Language">HTML</dfn> is the standard markup
language for creating web pages.</p>
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3. The title attribute of an <abbr> tag inside the <dfn> element:
Example
<p><dfn><abbr title="HyperText Markup Language">HTML</abbr></dfn> is the
standard markup language for creating web pages.</p>
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You can also add an id attribute to the <dfn> element. Then, whenever a term is used, it can refer back to the definition using an <a> tag:
Example
<p><dfn id="html-def">HTML</dfn> is the standard markup language for
creating web pages.</p>
<p>This is some text...</p>
<p>This is some
text...</p>
<p>Learn <a href="#html-def">HTML</a> now.</p>
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Browser Support
| Element | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <dfn> | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Differences Between HTML 4.01 and HTML5
NONE.
Global Attributes
The <dfn> tag also supports the Global Attributes in HTML.
Event Attributes
The <dfn> tag also supports the Event Attributes in HTML.
Related Pages
HTML tutorial: HTML Quotation Elements
HTML DOM reference: DFN Object
Default CSS Settings
Most browsers will display the <dfn> element with the following default values:
