Home
Syntax and mark-up
Organisation of DITA elements
Elements in DITA are grouped together into a number of categories for organisational and comprehension purposes.
Block and phrase elements
Most DITA topic semantic elements can be categorised as block or phrase elements.

Introduction
Information types and topics
Topics are the building blocks of modular documents, and organising topics by semantic information types is one of the architectural features of DITA.
DITA map files
Syntax and mark-up
- Organisation of DITA elements
  Elements in DITA are grouped together into a number of categories for organisational and comprehension purposes.
  - Block and phrase elements
    Most DITA topic semantic elements can be categorised as block or phrase elements.
  - Topic elements
    The topic elements are the basic structural building blocks of all information types.
  - Map elements
    The map elements are the elements used in ditamaps and bookmaps.
  - Body elements
    The simple block structures within the body of topics are categorised as the body elements.
  - Prolog elements
    A topic's metadata is stored in a range of prolog elements.
  - Domain elements
    The domain elements are comprised of a number of separate sets of elements that relate to specific documentation fields.
  - Specialisation elements
    Elements used primarily for specialisation are categorised as specialisation elements.
- Working with mark-up
- Element domains
  Elements in DITA are arranged into domains for organisational purposes and technical reasons.
- Short descriptions
  The short description (or shortdesc) is arguably the most important component of a DITA topic, and is also one of the most difficult elements to write. Short descriptions should be written for every topic.
- Lists
  The purpose of a list is to make it easier for the reader to understand sequences of information and collections of like information. Different types of lists are used for different information structures.
- Paragraphs
  Paragraphs are the basic components of topics. A paragraph (p) element should be a self-contained unit dealing with one idea or point, typically expressed in two or more related sentences. The p element should be used when no other semantically-specific block element is available.
- Procedures and steps
  The purpose of procedural documents is to explain to the reader how to accomplish tasks. The task information type is specifically designed for procedures, with a well-defined structure built around steps.
- Tables
  The purpose of a table is to structure, organise and present factual data that a user will need to look up or reference. There are two general purpose table types in DITA: table and simpletable.
- Phrases
  The semantics of words and phrases in DITA content is expressed through a broad range of phrase elements.
- Special characters and dates
Language and punctuation
Graphics and figures
Cross-referencing
Cross-references are a means of binding individual topics into a coherent and navigable document.
Content re-use
Metadata, conditional processing, and indexing
The DITA documentation process
DITA authoring concepts
Moving from style-based authoring to a structured authoring methodology such as DITA requires a radically different approach to writing.

Block and phrase elements

Most DITA topic semantic elements can be categorised as block or phrase elements.

Block elements are paragraph-like elements that are typically displayed in the output with space above and below the content, taking up the full width of the available space. Phrase (or inline) elements are applied to words or phrases within a block element, and typically do not force new lines in the output.

Block elements can exist within other block elements, but not within phrase elements.

Phrase elements can exist within block elements and within other phrase elements.

Examples of block elements include:

p (paragraph)
codeblock
steps
msgblock
title

Examples of phrase elements include:

term
codeph
uicontrol
msgph
tm (trademark)