Mark up lists and list items properly Accessibility Checkpoint

Description

This dl list uses images as bullets, so it looks like a bulleted list but screen readers voice it as a definition list.

Help

If it really is a list of terms and definitions, remove the bullet images. Otherwise change the dl to a ul with li items, and use CSS like list-style-image:url('images/bullet.png'); for the bullets.

Applicable standards

• WCAG 2.0 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• WCAG 2.1 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• WCAG 2.2 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• Section 508 (2017) (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)
• EN 301 549 (Success Criteria: 1.3.1 level A)

Note: Section 508 Refresh (2017) checkpoints are equivalent to WCAG 2.0 level A and level AA checkpoints. EN 301 549 checkpoints are equivalent to WCAG 2.1 level A and level AA checkpoints.

Change history

• 2026.61 Aug 2026 Improved detection: don’t flag hidden images, and check dt as well as dd.
• 5.38 Jul 2020 Changed rule ID from AccWcag1-3.6.1 to AccHtmlBulletListMarkup.
• 5.3 Sep 2013 Fixed false negative.
• 3.2 Apr 2009 Don’t fire for inline images inside definitions.
• 3.0 Dec 2008 Now triggers WCAG2 issue.
• 1.0 Feb 2007 Added.

This page describes a web site issue detected in HTML documents by SortSite Desktop and OnDemand Suite.

Rule ID: AccHtmlBulletListMarkup