HTML <dfn> Tag
Example
Mark up a term with <dfn>:
<p><dfn>HTML</dfn> is the standard markup language for creating web pages.</p>
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More "Try it Yourself" examples below.
Definition and Usage
The <dfn> tag stands for the "definition element", and it specifies a term that is going to be defined within the content.
The nearest parent of the <dfn> tag must also contain the definition/explanation for the term.
The term inside the <dfn> tag can be any of the following:
1. Just as the content of the <dfn>element:
Example
<p><dfn>HTML</dfn> is the standard markup language for creating web pages.</p>
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2. Or, with the title attribute added:
Example
<p><dfn title="HyperText Markup Language">HTML</dfn> is the standard markup language for creating web pages.</p>
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3. Or, with 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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4. Or, with the id attribute added. Then, whenever a term is used, it can refer back to the definition with 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 |
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:
