Index locators

An <indexterm> element binds the content of the element, typically a term, to a specific location in a document.

The nesting of <indexterm> elements and the presence of <index-see> elements determines whether locators are rendered in generated indexes:

• An <indexterm> element that does not contain child <indexterm> elements (or an <index-see> element) contributes a locator to the generated index entry.
• An <indexterm> element that contains child <indexterm> elements contributes to the hierarchy of the multilevel index entry that is generated. Only a leaf <indexterm> element contributes a locator to the generated index entry. A leaf <indexterm> element is an <indexterm> element that does not contain any other <indexterm> elements.
• If an <indexterm> element also contains one or more <index-see> elements, no locator is included in the generated index entry.
• If an <indexterm> element also contains one or more <index-see-also> elements, the <indexterm> element contributes a locator to the generated index entry, and <index-see-also> element provides only a redirection.