Quick Reference
Element Code: HT-008
Issue: LI elements exist outside of UL, OL, or menu parent elements
Impact: Invalid HTML, confusing document structure for screen readers
Fix: Wrap LI elements in appropriate UL or OL parent
Detection: HTML validators, axe DevTools
What Is This Issue?
List item elements (li) must be direct children of list containers (ul, ol, or menu). Orphaned li elements create invalid HTML and confuse assistive technologies.
Why This Matters for Your Website
Screen readers announce list information (like "list with 5 items"). Orphaned list items break this announcement and document structure.
How to Fix This Issue
- Identify orphaned li elements: Use HTML validator
- Wrap in list: Add ul for unordered or ol for ordered lists
- Or remove li: If not actually a list, use appropriate element
Tools for Detection
- HTML Validator: Reports orphaned list items
- axe DevTools: Flags invalid list structure
TL;DR (The Simple Version)
You have list items (li) without a list container. Wrap them in ul or ol tags, or use different HTML elements if they are not actually list items.
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