Creating lists

[numbered list] [unordered list] [menu] [directory] [definition]

HTML uses tags to define the kind of list you want displayed on your document. Each type of list has a beginning and an ending tag. Each item in the list is identified by a tag. The definition lists uses special tags for the items within the list. Below you will find the same list of the five types of HTML lists shown in different formats. The list remains essentially the same but the tags determine the format of the list. Each list with HTML tags appears first in raw HTML and is then followed by the formatted list.

Claris HomePage does the formatting for you when you highlight the text and then select the type of list. In general, it's best to type the list first and then highlight and select the list type rather than to type as you go.

Type of list

HTML format

What you see
Numbered list in HTML <OL>
<LI>numbered
<LI>unordered
<LI>menu
<LI>directory
<LI>definition
</OL>
  1. numbered
  2. unordered
  3. menu
  4. directory
  5. definition
Unordered list in HTML <UL>
<LI>numbered
<LI>unordered
<LI>menu
<LI>directory
<LI>definition
</UL>
  • numbered
  • unordered
  • menu
  • directory
  • definition
Menu in HTML <MENU>
<LI>numbered
<LI>unordered
<LI>menu
<LI>directory
<LI>definition
</MENU>
  • numbered
  • unordered
  • menu
  • directory
  • definition
    •
    Directory in HTML <DIR>
    <LI>numbered
    <LI>unordered
    <LI>menu
    <LI>directory
    <LI>definition
    </DIR>
  • numbered
  • unordered
  • menu
  • directory
  • definition
    • Definitiion list in HTML <DL>
    <DT>Numbered
    <DD>A numbered or ordered list begins with the <UL> tag. Each item in the list is identified by the <LI> tag. The browser places the numbers in sequential order.
    <DT>Unordered
    <DD>The unordered list uses uses the <OL> tag and places a bullet before each list item.
    <DT>Menu
    <DD>The menu uses the <MENU> tag to structure a lists of short paragraphs with no numbers or bullets. It is sometimes used to indent paragraphs.
    <DT>Directory
    <DD>The directory tag is <DIR>. In Netscape, menu and directory look the same but in other browsers the directory is meant for short items. Both the menu and directory will be ignored by some browsers but you will see many source documents with these structures.
    <DT>Definition
    <DD>The Definition or definition list is structured by the<DL> tag. Each term to be defined is identified by the <DT> tag and its definition is tagged as <DD>
    </DL>
    Numbered
    A numbered or ordered list begins with the <UL> tag. Each item in the list is identified by the <LI> tag. The browser places the numbers in sequential order.
    Unordered
    The unordered list uses uses the <OL> tag and places a bullet before each list item.
    Menu
    The menu uses the <MENU> tag to structure a lists of short paragraphs with no numbers or bullets. It is sometimes used to indent paragraphs.
    Directory
    The directory tag is <DIR>. In Netscape, menu and directory look the same but in other browsers the directory is meant for short items. Both the menu and directory will be ignored by some browsers but you will see many source documents with these structures.
    Definition
    The definition or definition list is structured by the<DL> tag. Each term to be defined is identified by the <DT> tag and its definition is tagged as <DD>

    Warning: Lists can be nested within lists. You will be glad you know HTML tags when you try to untangle nested lists created by a HTML text editor.

    Latest update: June 4, 1999

    Wichita State University