In HTML, which tag is used to create a numbered (ordered) list such as 1), 2), 3), 4)?

Difficulty: Easy

• Correct Answer:

  Explanation:

  
  Introduction / Context:
  When you design web pages, you often need to show lists of items. Some lists are unordered, where the order does not matter, and others are ordered, where the sequence is important and items are numbered. HTML provides specific tags for these list types. This question asks which tag is used to display a numbered list, such as 1), 2), 3), 4), in an HTML document.

  
  

  
  Given Data / Assumptions:
  

  • We are using standard HTML for web pages.
  • The list must be numbered automatically by the browser.
  • The question is about the container tag for the list, not individual list items.
  • We assume basic knowledge of block level tags such as p and list tags such as ul and ol.

  
  

  
  Concept / Approach:
  HTML defines two main tags for lists: ul for unordered lists and ol for ordered lists. Unordered lists usually display bullets, while ordered lists display numbers or letters depending on browser defaults and CSS styling. Inside either type of list, each item is wrapped in li tags. Other tags, such as dl, are used for description lists, and p is used for paragraphs, not lists. Therefore, to create a numbered list, you use the ol tag to wrap li elements.

  
  

  
  Step-by-Step Solution:
  Step 1: Recall the basic list tags. ul means unordered list, and ol means ordered list. Step 2: Recognize that a numbered list is an ordered list where the order and numbering 1, 2, 3, and so on matter. Step 3: Realize that li is the tag for individual list items, not for the overall list container. Step 4: Identify that dl is for description lists made of terms and descriptions, not simple numbered sequences. Step 5: Understand that p is the basic paragraph tag and does not automatically number items. Step 6: Conclude that the correct container tag for a numbered list is ol.
  

  
  Verification / Alternative check:
  If you write a small HTML example with ol and li tags, every modern browser will display the list with automatic numbering. For example, wrapping three li elements inside ol gives numbers 1, 2, and 3 without any extra work. In contrast, using ul produces bullets, and using p produces plain paragraphs without numbers. This confirms that ol is the correct tag for numbered lists.

  
  

  
  Why Other Options Are Wrong:
  Option a, ul, creates bullet lists instead of numbered lists. Option b, dl, is used for description lists. Option c, li, defines individual list items but does not create a list by itself. Option e, p, creates a paragraph and does not number content automatically.

  
  

  
  Common Pitfalls:
  Beginners sometimes mix up ul and ol because both involve lists. Another common mistake is to forget to wrap li elements in a parent list tag, which can cause inconsistent display across browsers. Remember to choose ol whenever the numeric or alphabetic order of items matters for meaning.

  
  

  
  Final Answer:
  In HTML, the tag used to create a numbered list is <ol>, the ordered list tag.