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Steven Roland

Summary Element: Disclosure Summary for Details

The <summary> HTML element is used as a summary or heading for the <details> element. It provides a visible label that users can click to expand or collapse the content within the <details> element. The <summary> element is an interactive element that enhances the user experience by allowing users to control the visibility of additional content.

Usage and Characteristics

The <summary> element is the first child of a <details> element and serves as the clickable heading that toggles the visibility of the content inside the <details>. Here is an example of how the <summary> tag can be used:

<details>
  <summary>More Information</summary>
  <p>This section contains additional details that can be expanded or collapsed by clicking the summary above.</p>
</details>

In this example, "More Information" is the clickable summary that, when clicked, reveals or hides the paragraph of additional details.

Valid Attributes for <summary>

The <summary> element does not have specific attributes beyond the global attributes, which include:

Attribute Description
class Specifies one or more class names for the element, used for CSS styling.
id Defines a unique identifier for the element, useful for linking and JavaScript.
style Contains inline CSS styles for the element.
title Provides additional information about the element, often displayed as a tooltip.

Benefits and Considerations

  • User Interaction: The <summary> element enhances user interaction by providing a clickable interface for expanding and collapsing content, making it easier to navigate and manage information.

  • Accessibility: The <summary> element, when used with <details>, improves accessibility by allowing users to control the visibility of content, which can be beneficial for screen readers and other assistive technologies.

  • Semantic Meaning: The <summary> element provides semantic meaning by indicating that the enclosed content is a summary or heading for additional details, helping both users and search engines understand the structure and purpose of the text.

In summary, the <summary> element is a valuable tool for creating interactive content sections within a webpage. It provides a clear and accessible way for users to expand or collapse additional information, enhancing both the usability and organization of web content. By using the <summary> element, developers can create more dynamic and user-friendly interfaces.

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