WCAG 1.3.1 · Level A
Dlitem
- What is broken
- Definition terms or descriptions sit outside a definition list.
- Who it affects
- Screen reader users navigate by headings and landmarks; when the structure is wrong they lose the map of the page.
- How to fix it
- Ensure every <dt> and <dd> has a <dl> parent.
Check your site for this issue
Free scan — no signup required. Covers WCAG 2.1 AA across 64 rules including this one.
Scan my site →Automated testing detects roughly a third of WCAG 2.1 success criteria. This rule is detected automatically; issues such as keyboard traps, focus order, and screen-reader flow still require manual review. Not legal advice.