Details and Summary

What Is It?

Details creates a section that a reader can open and close without JavaScript.

What the Tags Mean

• details: wraps the hidden content.
• summary: the visible heading people click.
• open: shows the content from the start.

Example 1

Save each example as index.html and open it in your browser. Each code block is a complete page.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Details and Summary</title>
 
</head>
<body>
<details>
  <summary>What should I bring?</summary>
  <p>Bring a notebook and a pencil.</p>
</details>
</body>
</html>

What you see: Click the question to show the answer. Click again to hide it.

Example 2: Another Use

Use open when you want the answer to start visible.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Details and Summary</title>
 
</head>
<body>
<details open>
  <summary>Class time</summary>
  <p>Saturday at 10 am.</p>
</details>
</body>
</html>

Simple Tip

Put summary first inside details. Keep essential instructions visible outside a closed section.

Try It Yourself

Write a second question and answer.