EPUB 3 Structural Semantics Vocabulary

Final Community Group Report

Latest editor's draft:
https://idpf.github.io/epub-vocabs/vocab/structure/structure.html
Editors:
Matt Garrish (DAISY Consortium)
Tzviya Siegman (John Wiley & Sons)
Former editor:
Markus Gylling (International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF))
Participate:
GitHub idpf/epub-vocabs
File a bug
Commit history
Pull requests

Abstract

This vocabulary, a part of EPUB® 3, defines a set of properties relating to the description of structural semantics of written works.

WARNING: This document is OBSOLETE.

The EPUB Structural Semantics Vocabulary is now a W3C Working Group Note, part of the EPUB 3 Specification family.

Status of This Document

This specification was published by the EPUB 3 Community Group. It is not a W3C Standard nor is it on the W3C Standards Track. Please note that under the W3C Community Final Specification Agreement (FSA) other conditions apply. Learn more about W3C Community and Business Groups.

This document is subject to change at any time. The terms defined herein will never be removed, but may be deprecated.

This document contains draft terms from the EDUPUB profile.

Any use of terms marked [draft] should be considered experimental.

Deprecated terms are identified by the label [deprecated]. These terms are no longer recommended for use in any context (refer to individual terms for additional restrictions on their use in specific contexts, such as in HTML).

If you wish to make comments regarding this document, please send them to public-epub3@w3.org (subscribe, archives).

1. About this vocabulary

While the EPUB Structural Semantics vocabulary is generally host language agnostic, it has been constructed primarily to enable semantic inflection of elements in the HTML vocabulary.

The HTML usage context fields indicate contexts in HTML documents where the given property is considered relevant. Authors may use the properties on HTML markup elements not specifically listed, but must ensure that the semantics they express represent a subset of the carrying element's semantics and do not attach an existing element's meaning to a semantically neutral element.

When processing HTML documents, Reading Systems may ignore such non-compliant properties, unless their usage context is explicitly overridden or extended by the host specification.

The Usage Details sections identify IDPF specifications that define or utilize the specified properties.

2. Conformance

As well as sections marked as non-normative, all authoring guidelines, diagrams, examples, and notes in this specification are non-normative. Everything else in this specification is normative.

3. Document partitions

cover

A section that introduces the work, often consisting of a marketing image, the title, author and publisher, and select quotes and reviews.

HTML usage context: section, body

frontmatter

Preliminary material to the main content of a publication, such as tables of contents, dedications, etc.

HTML usage context: section, body

bodymatter

The main content of a publication.

HTML usage context: section, body

backmatter

Ancillary material occurring after the main content of a publication, such as indices, appendices, etc.

HTML usage context: section, body

4. Document divisions

volume

A component of a collection.

HTML usage context: section, body

part

A major structural division in a work that contains a set of related sections dealing with a particular subject, narrative arc or similar encapsulated theme.

HTML usage context: section, body

chapter

A major thematic section of content in a work.

HTML usage context: section, body

subchapter [deprecated]

A major sub-division of a chapter.

HTML usage context: section, body

division

A major structural division that may also appear as a substructure of a part (esp. in legislation).

HTML usage context: section, body

5. Document sections and components

Sections and components that typically occur in the publication bodymatter.

abstract [draft]

A short summary of the principle ideas, concepts and conclusions of the work, or of a section or excerpt within it.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

foreword

An introductory section that precedes the work, typically not written by the author of the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

preface

An introductory section that precedes the work, typically written by the author of the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

prologue

An introductory section that sets the background to a work, typically part of the narrative.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

introduction

A preliminary section that typically introduces the scope or nature of the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

preamble

A section in the beginning of the work, typically containing introductory and/or explanatory prose regarding the scope or nature of the work's content

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

conclusion

A concluding section or statement that summarizes the work or wraps up the narrative.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

epilogue

A concluding section of narrative that wraps up or comments on the actions and events of the work, typically from a future perspective.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

afterword

A closing statement from the author or a person of importance, typically providing insight into how the content came to be written, its significance, or related events that have transpired since its timeline.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

epigraph

A quotation set at the start of the work or a section that establishes the theme or sets the mood.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

7. Document reference sections

appendix

A section of supplemental information located after the primary content that informs the content but is not central to it.

HTML usage context: sectioning content

colophon

A short section of production notes particular to the edition (e.g., describing the typeface used), often located at the end of a work.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, grouping content

credits [draft]

A collection of credits.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, grouping content

keywords [draft]

A collection of keywords.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, grouping content

Indexes

index

A navigational aid that provides a detailed list of links to key subjects, names and other important topics covered in the work.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, body

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index property

index-headnotes

Narrative or other content to assist users in using the index.

Required parent context: index

HTML usage context: sectioning content, header

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-headnotes property

index-legend

List of symbols, abbreviations or special formatting used in the index, and their meanings.

Required parent context: index-headnotes

HTML usage context: sectioning content, dl

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-legend property

index-group

Collection of consecutive main entries that share a common characteristic, for example the starting letter of the main entries.

Required parent context: index

HTML usage context: sectioning content

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-group property

index-entry-list

Collection of consecutive main entries or subentries.

Required parent context: index-entry , index-group and index

HTML usage context: ul; this property is implied when the ul has an ancestor of index except within index-headnotes

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-entry-list property

index-entry

One term with any attendant subentries, locators, cross references, and/or editorial note.

Required parent context: index-entry-list

HTML usage context: li; this property is implied when parent ul is of type index-entry-list (implicit or explicit)

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-entry property

index-term

Word, phrase, string, glyph or image representing the indexable content.

Required parent context: index-xref-related , index-entry and index-xref-preferred

HTML usage context: phrasing content; typically span

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-term property

index-editor-note

Editorial note pertaining to a single entry.

Required parent context: index-entry

HTML usage context: flow content

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-editor-note property

index-locator

A reference to an occurrence of the indexed content in the publication.

Required parent context: index-entry , index-locator-list and index-locator-range

HTML usage context: a; this property is implied when parent context is index-locator-list or index-locator-range

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-locator property

index-locator-list

Collection of sequential locators or locator ranges.

Required parent context: index-entry

HTML usage context: ul

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-locator-list property

index-locator-range

A pair of locators that connects a term to a range of content rather than a single point.

Required parent context: index-locator-list and index-entry

HTML usage context: flow content

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-locator-range property

index-xref-preferred

Reference from one term to one or more preferred terms or term categories in an index (analogous to "See xxx").

Required parent context: index-entry

HTML usage context: flow content

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-xref-preferred property

Reference from one term to one or more related terms or term categories in an index (analogous to "See also xxx").

Required parent context: index-entry

HTML usage context: flow content

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-xref-related property

index-term-category

Word, phrase, string, glyph or image representing a category of terms in the index.

Required parent context: index-xref-related and index-xref-preferred

HTML usage context: a

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-term-category property

index-term-categories

Wrapper for a list of the term categories belonging to an index.

Required parent context: index-xref-related and index-xref-preferred

HTML usage context: a

Usage details: EPUB Indexes – index-term-categories property

Glossaries

glossary

A brief dictionary of new, uncommon or specialized terms used in the content.

HTML usage context: dl, sectioning content

glossterm

A glossary term.

Required parent context: glossary

HTML usage context: The glossterm property is implied on dt elements within a dl element marked with the glossary property.

glossdef

The definition of a term in a glossary.

Required parent context: glossary

HTML usage context: The glossdef property is implied on dd elements within a dl element marked with the glossary property.

Bibliographies

bibliography

A list of external references cited in the work, which may be to print or digital sources.

HTML usage context: sectioning content

biblioentry

A single reference to an external source in a bibliography. A biblioentry typically provides more detailed information than its reference(s) in the content (e.g., full title, author(s), publisher, publication date, etc.).

Required parent context: bibliography

HTML usage context: grouping content

8. Preliminary sections and components

Preliminary sections and components, typically occuring in the publication frontmatter.

titlepage

The title page of the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

halftitlepage

The half title page of the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

The copyright page of the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

seriespage [draft]

Marketing section used to list related publications.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

acknowledgments

A section or statement that acknowledges significant contributions by persons, organizations, governments and other entities to the realization of the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

imprint

Information relating to the publication or distribution of the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

imprimatur

A formal statement authorizing the publication of the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

contributors

A list of contributors to the work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

other-credits

Acknowledgments of previously published parts of the work, illustration credits, and permission to quote from copyrighted material.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

errata

A set of corrections discovered after initial publication of the work, sometimes referred to as corrigenda.

HTML usage context: section, aside, grouping content

dedication

An inscription at the front of the work, typically addressed in tribute to one or more persons close to the author.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

revision-history

A record of changes made to a work.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

9. Complementary content

case-study [draft]

A detailed analysis of a specific topic.

Inherits from: xhv:complementary

HTML usage context: sectioning content

help [deprecated]

Helpful information that clarifies some aspect of the content or assists in its comprehension.

Inherits from: xhv:complementary

HTML usage context: aside, phrasing content

Replaced by: tip

marginalia [deprecated]

Content, both textual and graphical, that is offset in the margin.

Inherits from: xhv:complementary

HTML usage context: aside, phrasing content

Replaced by: aside

notice

Notifies the user of consequences that might arise from an action or event. Examples include warnings, cautions and dangers.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

pullquote [draft]

A distinctively placed or highlighted quotation from the current content designed to draw attention to a topic or highlight a key point.

Inherits from: xhv:complementary

HTML usage context: aside

Secondary or supplementary content, typically formatted as an inset or box.

Inherits from: xhv:complementary

HTML usage context: aside

Replaced by: aside

tip

Helpful information that clarifies some aspect of the content or assists in its comprehension.

Inherits from: xhv:complementary

HTML usage context: aside, phrasing content

warning [deprecated]

A warning.

HTML usage context: section, grouping content

Replaced by: notice

10. Titles and headings

halftitle

The title appearing on the first page of a work or immediately before the text.

Inherits from: title

HTML usage context: heading content. This property should only appear once within the document scope.

fulltitle

The full title of the work, either simple, in which case it is identical to title, or compound, in which case it consists of a title and a subtitle.

Inherits from: title

Same as: http://purl.org/dc/terms/title

HTML usage context: heading content. This property should only appear once within the document scope.

covertitle

The title of the work as displayed on the work's cover.

Inherits from: title

HTML usage context: heading content. This property should only appear once within the document scope.

title

The primary name of a document component, such as a list, table or figure.

HTML usage context: heading content, phrasing content descendants of heading content.

subtitle

An explanatory or alternate title for the work, or a section or component within it.

Inherits from: title

HTML usage context: heading content, phrasing content descendants of heading content, paragraphs, divs

label [draft]

The text label that precedes an ordinal in a component title (e.g., 'Chapter', 'Part', 'Figure', 'Table').

Inherits from: title

HTML usage context: Phrasing content descendants of heading content, li and figcaption

ordinal [draft]

An ordinal specifier for a component in a sequence of components (e.g., '1', 'IV', 'B-1').

Inherits from: title

HTML usage context: Phrasing content descendants of heading content, li and figcaption

bridgehead

A structurally insignificant heading that does not contribute to the hierarchical structure of the work.

HTML usage context: flow content, typically p, div or span

11. Educational content

Learning objectives

learning-objective

An explicit designation or description of a learning objective or a reference to an explicit learning objective.

HTML usage context: flow content, phrasing content

learning-objectives [draft]

A collection of learning-objectives.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, grouping content

learning-outcome [draft]

The understanding or ability a student is expected to achieve as a result of a lesson or activity.

HTML usage context: flow content

learning-outcomes [draft]

A collection of learing-outcomes.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, grouping content

learning-resource

A resource provided to enhance learning, or a reference to such a resource.

HTML usage context: flow content

learning-resources [draft]

A collection of learning-resources.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, grouping content

learning-standard [draft]

A formal set of expectations or requirements typically issued by a government or a standards body.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, phrasing content

learning-standards [draft]

A collection of learning-standards.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, grouping content

Testing

answer [draft]

The component of a self-assessment problem that provides the answer to the question.

HTML usage context: aside, grouping content

answers [draft]

A collection of answers.

HTML usage context: sectioning content, grouping content

assessment

A test, quiz, or other activity that helps measure a student's understanding of what is being taught.

HTML usage context: sectioning content

assessments [draft]

A collection of assessments.

HTML usage context: sectioning content

feedback [draft]

Instruction to the reader based on the result of an assessment.

HTML usage context: grouping content, phrasing content

fill-in-the-blank-problem [draft]

A problem that requires the reader to input a text answer to complete a sentence, statement or similar.

HTML usage context: aside, grouping content

general-problem [draft]

A problem with a free-form solution.

HTML usage context: aside, grouping content

qna

A section of content structured as a series of questions and answers, such as an interview or list of frequently asked questions.

HTML usage context: lists or sectioning content

match-problem [draft]

A problem that requires the reader to match the contents of one list with the corresponding items in another list.

HTML usage context: aside, grouping content

multiple-choice-problem [draft]

A problem with a set of potential answers to choose from ‒ some, all or none of which may be correct.

HTML usage context: aside, grouping content

practice [draft]

A review exercise or sample.

See also: practices

HTML usage context: aside, grouping content

question [draft]

The component of a self-assessment problem that identifies the question to be solved.

HTML usage context: grouping content

practices [draft]

A collection of practices.

HTML usage context: sectioning content

true-false-problem [draft]

A problem with either a true or false answer.

HTML usage context: aside, grouping content

12. Comics

panel

An individual frame, or drawing.

HTML usage context: li

Usage details: EPUB Region-Based Navigation

panel-group

A group of panels (e.g., a strip).

HTML usage context: li

Usage details: EPUB Region-Based Navigation

balloon

An area in a comic panel that contains the words, spoken or thought, of a character.

HTML usage context: li

Usage details: EPUB Region-Based Navigation

text-area

An area of text in a comic panel. Used to represent titles, narrative text, character dialogue (inside a balloon or not) and similar.

HTML usage context: li

Usage details: EPUB Region-Based Navigation

sound-area

An area of text in a comic panel that represents a sound.

HTML usage context: li

Usage details: EPUB Region-Based Navigation

13. Notes and annotations

annotation [deprecated]

Explanatory information about passages in the work.

Inherits from: xhv:complementary

HTML usage context: aside, phrasing content

Replaced by: Open Annotation in EPUB

note [deprecated]

A note. This property does not carry spatial positioning semantics, as do the footnote and endnote properties. It can be used to identify footnotes, endnotes, marginal notes, inline notes, and similar when legacy naming conventions are not desired.

HTML usage context: On the aside element when identifying a single note, or on descendants of sectioning content when identifying individual notes in a group (refer to footnotes and endnotes).

Replaced by: footnote, endnote

footnote

Ancillary information, such as a citation or commentary, that provides additional context to a referenced passage of text.

See also: footnotes

HTML usage context: On the aside element when identifying a single footnote, or on descendants of sectioning content when identifying individual footnotes in a group (refer to footnotes and endnotes).

endnote

One of a collection of notes that occur at the end of a work, or a section within it, that provides additional context to a referenced passage of text.

See also: endnotes

HTML usage context: On the aside element when identifying a single endnote, or on descendants of sectioning content when identifying individual endnotes in a group (refer to footnotes and endnotes).

rearnote [deprecated]

A note appearing in the rear (backmatter) of the work, or at the end of a section.

See also: rearnotes

HTML usage context: On the aside element when identifying a single rearnote, or on descendants of sectioning content when identifying individual rearnotes in a group (refer to footnotes and rearnotes).

Replaced by: endnote

footnotes

A collection of footnotes.

See also: footnote

HTML usage context: sectioning content

endnotes

A collection of notes at the end of a work or a section within it.

See also: endnote

HTML usage context: sectioning content

rearnotes [deprecated]

A collection of notes appearing at the rear (backmatter) of the work, or at the end of a section.

See also: rearnote

HTML usage context: sectioning content

Replaced by: endnotes

15. Document text

Terms for describing components at the phrasing level.

credit [draft]

An acknowledgment of the source of integrated content from third-party sources, such as photos. Typically identifies the creator, copyright and any restrictions on reuse.

HTML usage context: phrasing content

keyword

A key word or phrase.

HTML usage context: phrasing content

topic-sentence

A phrase or sentence serving as an introductory summary of the containing paragraph.

HTML usage context: phrasing content

concluding-sentence

A phrase or sentence serving as a concluding summary of the containing paragraph.

HTML usage context: phrasing content

16. Pagination

pagebreak

A separator denoting the position before which a break occurs between two contiguous pages in a statically paginated version of the content.

HTML usage context: phrasing and flow content, where the value of the carrying elements title attribute takes precedence over element content for the purposes of representing the pagebreak value

page-list

A navigational aid that provides a list of links to the pagebreaks in the content.

HTML usage context: sectioning content

17. Tables

table

A structure containing data or content laid out in tabular form.

HTML usage context: Not Allowed

Media Overlays usage context: Identifies a seq or par as an escapable or skippable table structure.

table-row

A row of data or content in a tabular structure.

HTML usage context: Not Allowed

Media Overlays usage context: Identifies a seq or par as an escapable or skippable table row.

table-cell

A single cell of tabular data or content.

HTML usage context: Not Allowed

Media Overlays usage context: Identifies a seq or par as an escapable or skippable table cell.

18. Lists

list

A structure that contains an enumeration of related content items.

HTML usage context: Not Allowed

Media Overlays usage context: Identifies a seq or par as an escapable or skippable list structure.

list-item

A single item in an enumeration.

HTML usage context: Not Allowed

Media Overlays usage context: Identifies a seq or par as an escapable or skippable list item.

19. Figures

figure

An illustration, diagram, photo, code listing or similar, referenced from the text of a work, and typically annotated with a title, caption and/or credits.

HTML usage context: Not Allowed

Media Overlays usage context: Identifies a seq or par as an escapable or skippable figure.

20. Asides

aside

Secondary or supplementary content.

HTML usage context: Not Allowed

Media Overlays usage context: Identifies a seq or par as an escapable or skippable aside.