HTML <dfn> Tag

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="keywords" content="HTML dfn tag, definition markup"> <meta name="Description" content="HTML dfn tag - represents a definition in an HTML document."> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.quackit.com/html/tags/html_dfn_tag.cfm"> <title>HTML <dfn> Tag</title> <script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/pix/favicon96.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/pix/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lato:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400&display=swap" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="/common/css/master.45.min.css" rel="stylesheet"> <script async src="https://cdn.fuseplatform.net/publift/tags/2/3499/fuse.js"></script>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-Q3H025ZKLN"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-Q3H025ZKLN'); </script> </head> <body> <header class="site-header"> <div class="site-header-base"> <div class="site-logo"> <a title="Quackit Homepage" target="_top" href="/"><img src="/pix/quackit_logo_watermark.png" width="87" height="33" alt="Quackit Logo"></a> </div> <button id="site-nav-toggler" class="site-nav-toggler" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="site-nav"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> ☰ </button> </div> <nav id="site-nav" class="site-nav"> <div class="site-links"> <ul> <li><a href="/"><i class="fa fa-home"></i> <span class="sr-only">Home</span></a></li> <li><a href="/html/">HTML</a></li> <li><a href="/css/">CSS</a></li> <li><a href="/scripting/">Scripting</a></li> <li><a href="/database/">Database</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="site-search-top"> <form action="/search/" id="cse-search-box-bottom" class="site-search"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-6331358926293806:98x0fk-bbgi"> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:10"> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"> <input type="text" name="q" size="20" class="site-search-input"> <button type="submit" name="sa" class="site-search-button"><i class="fa fa-search"></i></button> </div> </form> </div> </nav> </header> <div class="main"> <article class="content"> <h1 class="page-title">HTML <dfn> Tag</h1> <div class="ad ad-top">  <div data-fuse="23059883623"></div> </div> <p class="lead">The HTML <code><dfn></code> tag represents the defining instance of a term.</p> <p>The defining instance is the instance where the term is being described or defined. This is typically when the term is being used for the first time. There is no need to use the <code><dfn></code> each time you refer to the term. You only need to use it at the point that the term is being defined.</p> <h2>Syntax</h2> <p>The <code><dfn></code> tag is written as <code><dfn></code><code></dfn></code> with the term inserted between the start and end tags.</p> <p>Like this:</p> <script src="/common/js/codemirror/lib/codemirror.js"></script> <script src="/common/js/codemirror/mode/htmlmixed/htmlmixed.js"></script> <script src="/common/js/codemirror/mode/css/css.js"></script> <script src="/common/js/codemirror/mode/javascript/javascript.js"></script> <script src="/common/js/codemirror/mode/xml/xml.js"></script> <div class="code-only"> <textarea id="example1" autocomplete="off" spellcheck="false"><p>A <dfn>kiwi</dfn> is a...</p></textarea> </div> <script> var exampleCode1 = CodeMirror.fromTextArea(document.getElementById("example1"), { mode: "htmlmixed", tabMode: "indent", styleActiveLine: false, lineNumbers: false, lineWrapping: true, theme: "q-dark" }); </script> <h2>Examples</h2> <h3>Basic tag usage</h3> <script src="/common/js/codemirror/mode/htmlmixed/htmlmixed.js"></script> <div class="code-only"> <textarea id="example2" autocomplete="off" spellcheck="false"><p>We were determined to find a kiwi. A <dfn>kiwi</dfn> is a native bird of New Zealand. </p>
<p>... later in the document...</p>
<p>After walking for 3 days and 3 nights, we finally had a glimpse of a kiwi!</p></textarea> </div> <script> var exampleCode2 = CodeMirror.fromTextArea(document.getElementById("example2"), { mode: "htmlmixed", tabMode: "indent", styleActiveLine: false, lineNumbers: false, lineWrapping: true, theme: "q-dark" }); </script> <h3>Using the <code><dfn></code> Tag with Abbreviations</h3> <p>Abbreviations enclosed in the <a href="/html/tags/html_abbr_tag.cfm"><code><abbr></code></a> tag can include the abbreviation's expansion in the <code>title</code> element. However, this expansion is <em>not</em> the defining instance. The <a href="/html/tags/html_abbr_tag.cfm"><code><abbr></code></a> tag can contain the expansion every time it appears in a document, but the defining instance (i.e. using the <code><dfn></code> tag) should only appear once. </p> <p>The following example demonstrates this. Note that the abbreviation and expansion appears twice, however the defining instance (i.e. using the <code><dfn></code> tag) only appears once.</p> <div class="code-only"> <textarea id="example3" autocomplete="off" spellcheck="false"><p><dfn><abbr title="Transcendental Meditation">TM</abbr></dfn> a technique for detaching oneself from anxiety and promoting harmony and self-realization by meditation, repetition of a mantra, and other yogic practices.</p>
<p>... later in the document...</p>
<p>After headbanging for 3 days and 3 nights, we finally decided to try <abbr title="Transcendental Meditation">TM</abbr>!</p></textarea> </div> <script> var exampleCode3 = CodeMirror.fromTextArea(document.getElementById("example3"), { mode: "htmlmixed", tabMode: "indent", styleActiveLine: false, lineNumbers: false, lineWrapping: true, theme: "q-dark" }); </script> <h2>Attributes</h2> <p><a href="/html/tutorial/html_attributes.cfm">Attributes</a> can be added to an HTML element to provide more information about how the element should appear or behave.</p> <p>The <code><dfn></code> element accepts the following attributes.</p> <table class="tabular"> <tr> <th>Attribute</th><th>Description</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">None, but the <code>title</code> attribute has special semantics for this element. If the <code><dfn></code> tag has a <code>title</code> attribute, then the exact value of that attribute is the term being defined.</td> </tr> </table> <h3>Global Attributes</h3> <p>The following attributes are standard across all HTML elements. Therefore, you can use these attributes with the <code><dfn></code> tag , as well as with all other HTML tags.</p> <ul class="col-3"> <li><code>accesskey</code></li> <li><code>autocapitalize</code></li> <li><code>class</code></li> <li><code>contenteditable</code></li> <li><code>data-*</code></li> <li><code>dir</code></li> <li><code>draggable</code></li> <li><code>hidden</code></li> <li><code>id</code></li> <li><code>inputmode</code></li> <li><code>is</code></li> <li><code>itemid</code></li> <li><code>itemprop</code></li> <li><code>itemref</code></li> <li><code>itemscope</code></li> <li><code>itemtype</code></li> <li><code>lang</code></li> <li><code>part</code></li> <li><code>slot</code></li> <li><code>spellcheck</code></li> <li><code>style</code></li> <li><code>tabindex</code></li> <li><code>title</code></li> <li><code>translate</code></li> </ul> <p>For a full explanation of these attributes, see <a href="/html/tags/html_5_global_attributes.cfm">HTML 5 global attributes</a>.</p> <h3>Event Handlers</h3> <p>Event handler content attributes enable you to invoke a script from within your HTML. The script is invoked when a certain "event" occurs. Each event handler content attribute deals with a different event.</p> <ul class="col-3"> <li><code>onabort</code></li> <li><code>onauxclick</code></li> <li><code>onblur</code></li> <li><code>oncancel</code></li> <li><code>oncanplay</code></li> <li><code>oncanplaythrough</code></li> <li><code>onchange</code></li> <li><code>onclick</code></li> <li><code>onclose</code></li> <li><code>oncontextmenu</code></li> <li><code>oncopy</code></li> <li><code>oncuechange</code></li> <li><code>oncut</code></li> <li><code>ondblclick</code></li> <li><code>ondrag</code></li> <li><code>ondragend</code></li> <li><code>ondragenter</code></li> <li><code>ondragexit</code></li> <li><code>ondragleave</code></li> <li><code>ondragover</code></li> <li><code>ondragstart</code></li> <li><code>ondrop</code></li> <li><code>ondurationchange</code></li> <li><code>onemptied</code></li> <li><code>onended</code></li> <li><code>onerror</code></li> <li><code>onfocus</code></li> <li><code>onformdata</code></li> <li><code>oninput</code></li> <li><code>oninvalid</code></li> <li><code>onkeydown</code></li> <li><code>onkeypress</code></li> <li><code>onkeyup</code></li> <li><code>onlanguagechange</code></li> <li><code>onload</code></li> <li><code>onloadeddata</code></li> <li><code>onloadedmetadata</code></li> <li><code>onloadstart</code></li> <li><code>onmousedown</code></li> <li><code>onmouseenter</code></li> <li><code>onmouseleave</code></li> <li><code>onmousemove</code></li> <li><code>onmouseout</code></li> <li><code>onmouseover</code></li> <li><code>onmouseup</code></li> <li><code>onpaste</code></li> <li><code>onpause</code></li> <li><code>onplay</code></li> <li><code>onplaying</code></li> <li><code>onprogress</code></li> <li><code>onratechange</code></li> <li><code>onreset</code></li> <li><code>onresize</code></li> <li><code>onscroll</code></li> <li><code>onsecuritypolicyviolation</code></li> <li><code>onseeked</code></li> <li><code>onseeking</code></li> <li><code>onselect</code></li> <li><code>onslotchange</code></li> <li><code>onstalled</code></li> <li><code>onsubmit</code></li> <li><code>onsuspend</code></li> <li><code>ontimeupdate</code></li> <li><code>ontoggle</code></li> <li><code>onvolumechange</code></li> <li><code>onwaiting</code></li> <li><code>onwheel</code></li> </ul> <p>Most event handler content attributes can be used on all HTML elements, but some event handlers have specific rules around when they can be used and which elements they are applicable to.</p> <p>For more detail, see <a href="/html/tags/html_5_event_handler_content_attributes.cfm">HTML event handler content attributes</a>.</p> </article> <div class="sidebar"> <nav> <ul> <li> <h3><a href="/html/tags/">HTML Tags</a></h3> <ul class="taglist"> <li><a href="/html/tags/html_comments_tag.cfm">!--...--</a></li> <li><a href="/html/tags/html_doctype_tag.cfm">!DOCTYPE</a></li> <li><a href="/html/tags/html_a_tag.cfm">a</a></li> <li><a href="/html/tags/html_abbr_tag.cfm">abbr</a></li> <li><a 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HTML <dfn> Tag