# Element “dl” is missing a required instance of child element “dd”. > Canonical HTML version: https://rocketvalidator.com/html-validation/element-dl-is-missing-a-required-instance-of-child-element-dd > Attribution: Rocket Validator (https://rocketvalidator.com) > License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) The `

` elements provide the terms (or names) and `

` elements provide the associated descriptions (or values). According to the HTML specification, the content model for `

` group be followed by one or more `

` elements. A `

` elements and no `

` elements is invalid HTML. This matters for several reasons. Assistive technologies like screen readers rely on the proper `

`/`

` pairing to convey the relationship between terms and their descriptions. A description list without descriptions is semantically meaningless — it's like having a dictionary with words but no definitions. Browsers may also render the list inconsistently when the expected structure is incomplete. Common causes of this error include: - Accidentally using `

` to create a simple list instead of using ` ` or ` `. - Dynamically generated content where the ` ` elements are missing due to empty data. - Incomplete markup where the developer forgot to add the description elements. To fix this issue, make sure every ` ` element inside a ` ` is followed by at least one ` ` element. If you don't actually need a description list, consider using a different element like ` ` for simple lists. ## Examples ### Invalid: ` ` with only ` ` and no ` ` ```html The Meaning of Life ``` This is invalid because the ` ` term has no corresponding ` ` description. ### Fixed: Adding a ` ` element ```html The Meaning of Life A philosophical question about the significance of existence. ``` ### Invalid: Multiple terms without any descriptions ```html HTML CSS JavaScript ``` This triggers the error because none of the terms have associated descriptions. ### Fixed: Each term with a description ```html HTML A markup language for structuring web content. CSS A style sheet language for describing presentation. JavaScript A programming language for web interactivity. ``` ### Valid: Multiple terms sharing a single description Multiple ` ` elements can share a single ` `, which is useful for synonyms or aliases: ```html Laptop Notebook A portable personal computer with a clamshell form factor. ``` ### Valid: A single term with multiple descriptions A ` ` can also be followed by multiple ` ` elements: ```html Python A large constricting snake. A high-level programming language. ``` ### Valid: Using ` ` to wrap name-value groups The HTML spec allows wrapping each ` `/` ` group in a ` ` for styling purposes. Each ` ` must still contain at least one ` `: ```html Name Jane Doe Email jane@example.com ``` ### Alternative: Use ` ` when descriptions aren't needed If you only need a list of items without descriptions, a ` ` is the wrong element. Use an unordered list instead: ```html HTML CSS JavaScript ```: ` elements are missing due to empty data. - Incomplete markup where the developer forgot to add the description elements. To fix this issue, make sure every `
` element inside a ` ` is followed by at least one ` ` element. If you don't actually need a description list, consider using a different element like ` ` for simple lists. ## Examples ### Invalid: ` ` with only ` ` and no ` ` ```html The Meaning of Life ``` This is invalid because the ` ` term has no corresponding ` ` description. ### Fixed: Adding a ` ` element ```html The Meaning of Life A philosophical question about the significance of existence. ``` ### Invalid: Multiple terms without any descriptions ```html HTML CSS JavaScript ``` This triggers the error because none of the terms have associated descriptions. ### Fixed: Each term with a description ```html HTML A markup language for structuring web content. CSS A style sheet language for describing presentation. JavaScript A programming language for web interactivity. ``` ### Valid: Multiple terms sharing a single description Multiple ` ` elements can share a single ` `, which is useful for synonyms or aliases: ```html Laptop Notebook A portable personal computer with a clamshell form factor. ``` ### Valid: A single term with multiple descriptions A ` ` can also be followed by multiple ` ` elements: ```html Python A large constricting snake. A high-level programming language. ``` ### Valid: Using ` ` to wrap name-value groups The HTML spec allows wrapping each ` `/` ` group in a ` ` for styling purposes. Each ` ` must still contain at least one ` `: ```html Name Jane Doe Email jane@example.com ``` ### Alternative: Use ` ` when descriptions aren't needed If you only need a list of items without descriptions, a ` ` is the wrong element. Use an unordered list instead: ```html HTML CSS JavaScript ```