WAI-ARIA spec(opens in new window)HTML-ARIA spec(opens in new window)

Semantics

A definition of a term or concept.

Additional info from the ARIA specification

See related term.

Authors MUST identify the element being defined and assign that element a role of term.

Authors SHOULD NOT use the definition role on interactive elements such as form controls because doing so could prevent users of assistive technologies from interacting with those elements.

Abstract Role

  • StructureRepresents a non-interactive part of a page that organizes content into coherent units.

Content Categories

  • Phrasing ContentAn element that typically appears inline and provides semantic meaning to text content.

Allowed Descendants

Phrasing Children Allowed

Usage

Allowed HTML elements

Implicit semantics

These elements have the role semantics by default, without needing to set the role attribute. Reach for elements with native semantics first when choosing how to implement a role in your content.

  • dd

Explicitly allowed

  • None

Elements that can have any role

  • abbr[role=definition]
  • address[role=definition]
  • b[role=definition]
  • blockquote[role=definition]
  • canvas[role=definition]
  • cite[role=definition]
  • code[role=definition]
  • custom-element[role=definition]
  • data[role=definition]
  • del[role=definition]
  • dfn[role=definition]
  • div[role=definition]
  • em[role=definition]
  • figure[role=definition]
  • i[role=definition]
  • ins[role=definition]
  • kbd[role=definition]
  • mark[role=definition]
  • output[role=definition]
  • p[role=definition]
  • pre[role=definition]
  • q[role=definition]
  • samp[role=definition]
  • small[role=definition]
  • span[role=definition]
  • table[role=definition]
  • tbody[role=definition]
  • tfoot[role=definition]
  • thead[role=definition]
  • time[role=definition]
  • u[role=definition]
  • var[role=definition]