Short for document type definition. A DTD states what tags and attributes are used to describe content in an SGML, XML or HTML document, where each tag is allowed, and which tags can appear within other tags. For example, in a DTD one could say that LIST tags can contain ITEM tags, but ITEM tags cannot contain LIST tags. In some editors, when authors are inputting information, they can place tags only where the DTD allows. This ensures that all the documentation is formatted the same way. Applications will use a document's DTD to properly read and display a document's contents. Changes in the format of the document can be easily made by modifying the DTD.
(Special thanks goes to technical writer Ryan Mauldin for help in updating this definition.)
HTML 3.2 DTD Provides detailed information about HTML 3.2 DTD. The information is divided into sections about top elements, all elements, and general entities. You can also view the tags in the form of a hierarchical tree.
HTML 4.0 DTDs Describes the three DTDs used by HTML 4.0: strict, transitional, and frameset. One of these DTDs must be present in each document. Each DTD supports different elements.
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