# \[OT\] semantic markup of attributes?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ot-semantic-markup-of-attributes/49678>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [December 7, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ot-semantic-markup-of-attributes/49678 "2005-12-07T16:37:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mikkel)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ot-semantic-markup-of-attributes/49678/1 "2005-12-07T16:37:51Z")

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Allright wise guys…

wokring on a project where we try to take semantic markup pretty  
seriously…

one of my co-workers challenged me…

whats the right way to write the follwoing in nice html??

Username: john doe  
Adress: somewhere out there 32  
Age: 23

Now if this was a form, i would use labels…but in this case???

TIA

Mikkel

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**Author:** ![mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mikkel)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ot-semantic-markup-of-attributes/49678/2 "2005-12-07T16:50:56Z")

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On 12/7/05, mikkel [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> Adress: somewhere out there 32  
> Age: 23
> 
> Now if this was a form, i would use labels…but in this case???
> 
> TIA

You can use a definition list:

foobar...

Is this one of Dan Cederholm’s Simple Quizzes?

–  
rick  
[http://techno-weenie.net](http://techno-weenie.net)

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**Author:** ![mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mikkel)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 4:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ot-semantic-markup-of-attributes/49678/3 "2005-12-07T16:55:01Z")

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On Dec 7, 2005, at 10:37 AM, mikkel wrote:

> Adress: somewhere out there 32  
> Age: 23
> 
> Now if this was a form, i would use labels…but in this case???

Some would say that using microformats is the way to go with this:

```
http://www.microformats.org/

```

You’ll find specs for address (adr) and the hCard which includes bday.

```
Erik
```

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**Author:** ![mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mikkel)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ot-semantic-markup-of-attributes/49678/4 "2005-12-07T21:12:28Z")

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On Dec 7, 2005, at 10:59 AM, mikkel wrote:

> Erik, it wasnt really specific to an adress…

So then where are the “semantics”? 🙂

> Rick…can you have dt/dd without a dl??

I’m guessing you could use the microformats with these elements if  
you like.

```
Erik
```

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**Author:** ![mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mikkel)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ot-semantic-markup-of-attributes/49678/5 "2005-12-07T21:12:28Z")

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On 12/7/05, mikkel [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> thanks…
> 
> Erik, it wasnt really specific to an adress…
> 
> Rick…can you have dt/dd without a dl??
> 
> thanks

Nope.

–  
rick  
[http://techno-weenie.net](http://techno-weenie.net)

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**Author:** ![mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@mikkel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mikkel)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ot-semantic-markup-of-attributes/49678/6 "2005-12-07T16:59:58Z")

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thanks…

Erik, it wasnt really specific to an adress…

Rick…can you have dt/dd without a dl??

thanks