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HTML Tags

HTML <ol> Tag

The <ol> tag in HTML defines an ordered (numbered) list, and the <li> tag defines individual list items within that list.
Ordered lists are used when the sequence of items is important, such as steps in a process, rankings, or instructions.

Syntax

html

<ol>
  <li>Step 1</li>
  <li>Step 2</li>
  <li>Step 3</li>
</ol>

Attributes

TagAttributeDescription
<ol>typeSpecifies the numbering type. Values: 1 (default), A, a, I, i.
<ol>startDefines the starting number for the list.
<ol>reversedDisplays the list in descending order. (Boolean attribute)
<li>valueSpecifies a custom number or letter for the list item.
<li>typeOverrides the numbering type for that specific item. (Deprecated)

Example

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Ordered List Example</title>
  <style>
    ol {
      background-color: #f9f9f9;
      padding: 15px;
      border: 1px solid #ddd;
      border-radius: 8px;
      width: 250px;
    }
    li {
      margin: 5px 0;
      color: #333;
      font-size: 16px;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <h2>Steps to Make Tea</h2>
  <ol type="1" start="1" reversed>
    <li>Boil water</li>
    <li>Add tea leaves</li>
    <li>Pour into cup</li>
    <li>Add sugar and milk</li>
  </ol>
</body>
</html>

Output

Browser Output

html

Use our TryIt Editor to see the output

Browser Support

Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Safari
Opera
IE9+
YesYesYesYesYesYes

The <ol> and <li> tags have full browser support across all modern browsers.
Use our Try It Editor to see how list numbering, types, and reversal behave in different browsers.

Notes

  • The <ol> tag is used for ordered lists, and <li> defines the items within it.
  • You can start numbering from any point using the start attribute.
  • The reversed attribute displays lists in reverse order.
  • The numbering style can be customized using CSS:

css

ol { list-style-type: upper-roman; }
  • Nested ordered lists create hierarchical numbering.

Conclusion

The <ol> and <li> tags are perfect for creating structured, ordered lists where sequence matters.
They make step-by-step guides, rankings, and ordered data clear and easy to follow.
Use attributes like type, start, and reversed to fully control the numbering behavior.

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