Difference Between HTML Lists
Feature Ordered List (<ol>) Unordered List Description List (<dl>)
(<ul>)
Purpose To display items in a To display items in no To show terms and their
specific order specific order descriptions
Tag Used <ol> <ul> <dl>
List Item Tag <li> <li> <dt> (term), <dd>
(description)
Default Style Numbers (1, 2, 3...) Bullets (•) No bullets or numbers
Ordering Order matters Order does not Describes the meaning of
Importance (steps, ranks, etc.) matter terms
Use Case Instructions, steps, Shopping list, Glossary, FAQ section
Example rankings navigation menu
Style type, start type (disc, square, No style attributes for
Attributes circle) ordering
Semantic Use Indicates ordered Indicates grouped Indicates term-definition
content unordered content relationships
Example Tags <ol><li>One</li <ul><li>One</li> <dl><dt>HTML</dt><dd
></ol> </ul> >Markup
language</dd></dl>
Common Use Tutorials, recipes Menus, feature lists Glossaries, subject
In explanations