Linking and addressing terminology

Certain terminology is used for discussing linking and addressing.

referenced element

An element that is referenced by another DITA element. See also referencing element.

Example

Consider the following code sample from a installation-reuse.dita topic. The <step> element that it contains is a referenced element; other DITA topics reference the <step> element by using the @conref attribute.

<step id="run-startcmd-script">
	<cmd>Run the startcmd script that is applicable to your operating-system environment.</cmd>
</step>

referencing element

An element that references another DITA element by specifying an addressing attribute. See also referenced element and addressing attribute

Example

The following <step> element is a referencing element. It uses the @conref attribute to reference a <step> element in the installation-reuse.dita topic.

<step conref="installation-reuse.dita#reuse/run-startcmd-script">
	<cmd/>
</step>

addressing attribute

An attribute, such as @conref, @conkeyref, @keyref, and @href, that specifies an address.

Draft comment: robander 26 may 2021

Nit-picking: conkeyref / keyref do not specify an address, they specify a key that can indirectly result in an address. Maybe rephrase something like this, but not sure where to put the "such as" here:

An attribute that specifies an address or a that specifies key that resolves to an address.

or maybe

An attribute that specifies an address or that specifies a key.

Draft comment: robander

TO RESOLVE 12 May 2026: how about "An attribute that specifies an address, such as conref and href, or specifies an indirect reference to an address, such as conkeyref and keyref"