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Pulseaccessibility

Definition Lists Are Properly Structured

What This Audit Checks

This audit verifies that <dl> elements only contain properly ordered <dt> and <dd> elements (optionally wrapped in <div> groups), plus <template> or <script> elements. Any other direct children make the definition list invalid.

Why It Matters

Screen readers announce definition lists with specific semantics, pairing terms with their definitions. Invalid child elements break this pairing and cause assistive technologies to misrepresent or skip content entirely.

How to Fix It

  • Remove invalid children from <dl>. Only <dt>, <dd>, <div>, <template>, and <script> are permitted as direct children.
  • Wrap term-definition pairs in <div> if you need a styling container. This is valid HTML and preserves semantics.
  • Move non-definition content outside the <dl>. Paragraphs, headings, or other elements do not belong inside a definition list.
<!-- Bad: p element is not a valid dl child -->
<dl>
  <p>Glossary of terms</p>
  <dt>Encryption</dt>
  <dd>The process of encoding data.</dd>
</dl>

<!-- Good: heading moved outside -->
<p>Glossary of terms</p>
<dl>
  <dt>Encryption</dt>
  <dd>The process of encoding data.</dd>
</dl>

How Pulse Tracks This

Pulse flags this audit in your Lighthouse accessibility score. When the audit fails, Pulse shows which elements triggered it so you can fix them directly.

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