HTML <Ol> Tag

Definition

The <ol> tag is used to create an ordered list, which is typically a numbered list.

Example

<ol reversed start="4" >
    <li>first item</li>
    <li>second item</li>
    <li>third item</li>
</ol>

Usage

• An opening and closing tag is required.

• The <ol> element is used with child <li> elements representing the list items.

• A <script> or <template> elements are also allowed as child elements.

• The <ol> and <li> elements may be repeatedly nested within each. For example:

  <ol>
  <li>first item
    <ol>
      <li>first item</li>
      <li>second item</li>
      <li>third item</li>
    </ol>
  </li>
  <li>second item</li>
  <li>third item</li>
  </ol>

  Try it Yourself

• You can alternate between <ol> and <ul> elements as required. For instance, you can start with a bullet list and have a nest numbered list.

  <ol>
  <li>first item
    <ul>
      <li>first item</li>
      <li>second item</li>
      <li>third item</li>
    </ul>
  </li>
  <li>second item</li>
  <li>third item</li>
  </ol>

  Try it Yourself

Attributes

The <ol> element supports the Global Attributes, as well as the following:

• reversed

  The reversed attribute is a boolean that specifies that the list items are in reverse order.

• start

  The start attribute is a number from which you wish the list to start. This is always an Arabic number (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.), even if a different type attribute is used.

• type

  The type attribute sets the type of numbering the list uses.

  Values can include:

  • a for lowercase letters
  • A for uppercase letters
  • i for lowercase Roman numerals
  • I for uppercase Roman numerals
  • 1 for numbers (default)

  For example, to set Roman numeral numbering:

  <ol type="i" >
    <li>first item</li>
    <li>second item</li>
    <li>third item</li>
  </ol>

  Try it Yourself

Best Practices

• The <ol> element represent an ordered list. This means the order matters and is more suitable for a list of steps or directions. If the order does not matter, you should use an unordered list using the <ul> tag.

Specification

• HTML Living Standard Specification
• HTML5 Specification

Browser Support

Desktop

Mobile