Content presentation - Summary list
Experimental

This component is currently experimental which means that we're looking for teams to test it and feedback.

Use the summary list to summarise information, for example, a user’s responses at the end of a form.

Open this summary list example in new window
Copy 
<dl class="nhsuk-summary-list">

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Name
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      Karen Francis
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> name</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Date of birth
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      15 March 1984
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> date of birth</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact information
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> contact information</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact details
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      <p>07700 900362</p>
      <p>karen.francis@example.com</p>
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> contact details</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

</dl>
Copy 
{% from "summary-list/macro.njk" import summaryList %}

{{ summaryList({
  rows: [
    {
      key: {
        text: "Name"
      },
      value: {
        text: "Karen Francis"
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "name"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Date of birth"
      },
      value: {
        text: "15 March 1984"
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "date of birth"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact information"
      },
      value: {
        html: "73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN"
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "contact information"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact details"
      },
      value: {
        html: '<p>07700 900362</p><p>karen.francis@example.com</p>'
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "contact details"
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}) }}

When to use summary lists

Use the summary list component to present pairs of related information, known as key-value pairs, in a list, where:

  • the key is a label, like "Name"
  • the value is the piece of information itself, like "John Smith"

Think about how you can use the summary list along with other components or patterns to give users a sense of control. You can use it to summarise a user’s responses at the end of a form, for example as part of the GOV.UK check answers pattern.

When not to use summary lists

The summary list uses the description list <dl> HTML element, so only use it to present information that has a key and at least 1 value.

Do not use it for tabular data or a simple list of information or tasks, like a task list page. (See the GOV.UK task list page pattern.) For those, use a <table>, <ul> or <ol>.

How to use summary lists

There are 2 ways to use the summary list component. You can use HTML or, if you’re using Nunjucks or the NHS.UK prototype kit, you can use the Nunjucks macro.

Open this summary list example in new window
Copy 
<dl class="nhsuk-summary-list">

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Name
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      Karen Francis
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> name</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Date of birth
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      15 March 1984
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> date of birth</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact information
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> contact information</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact details
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      <p>07700 900362</p>
      <p>karen.francis@example.com</p>
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> contact details</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

</dl>
Copy 
{% from "summary-list/macro.njk" import summaryList %}

{{ summaryList({
  rows: [
    {
      key: {
        text: "Name"
      },
      value: {
        text: "Karen Francis"
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "name"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Date of birth"
      },
      value: {
        text: "15 March 1984"
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "date of birth"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact information"
      },
      value: {
        html: "73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN"
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "contact information"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact details"
      },
      value: {
        html: '<p>07700 900362</p><p>karen.francis@example.com</p>'
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "contact details"
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}) }}

Summary list with actions

You can add actions to a summary list, like a "Change" link to let users go back and edit their answer.

People who use assistive technology, like a screen reader, may hear the action links out of context and not know what they do. To give more context, add visually hidden text to the links. This means a screen reader user will hear a meaningful action, like "Change name" or "Change date of birth".

Open this summary list example in new window
Copy 
<dl class="nhsuk-summary-list">

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Name
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      Karen Francis
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> name</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Date of birth
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      15 March 1984
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> date of birth</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact information
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> contact information</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact details
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      <p>07700 900362</p>
      <p>karen.francis@example.com</p>
    </dd>

    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__actions">

      <a href="#">
        Change<span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden"> contact details</span>
      </a>

    </dd>

  </div>

</dl>
Copy 
{% from "summary-list/macro.njk" import summaryList %}

{{ summaryList({
  rows: [
    {
      key: {
        text: "Name"
      },
      value: {
        text: "Karen Francis"
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "name"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Date of birth"
      },
      value: {
        text: "15 March 1984"
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "date of birth"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact information"
      },
      value: {
        html: "73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN"
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "contact information"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact details"
      },
      value: {
        html: '<p>07700 900362</p><p>karen.francis@example.com</p>'
      },
      actions: {
        items: [
          {
            href: "#",
            text: "Change",
            visuallyHiddenText: "contact details"
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}) }}

Summary list without actions

Open this summary list without action example in new window
Copy 
<dl class="nhsuk-summary-list">

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Name
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      Karen Francis
    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Date of birth
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      15 March 1984
    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact information
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN
    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact details
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      <p>07700 900362</p>
      <p>karen.francis@example.com</p>
    </dd>

  </div>

</dl>
Copy 
{% from "summary-list/macro.njk" import summaryList %}

{{ summaryList({
  rows: [
    {
      key: {
        text: "Name"
      },
      value: {
        text: "Karen Francis"
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Date of birth"
      },
      value: {
        text: "15 March 1984"
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact information"
      },
      value: {
        html: "73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN"
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact details"
      },
      value: {
        html: '<p>07700 900362</p><p>karen.francis@example.com</p>'
      }
    }
  ]
}) }}

Summary list without actions or borders

If you do not include actions in your summary list and it would be better for your design to remove the separating borders, use the nhsuk-summary-list--no-border class.

Open this summary list without border example in new window
Copy 
<dl class="nhsuk-summary-list nhsuk-summary-list--no-border">

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Name
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      Karen Francis
    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Date of birth
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      15 March 1984
    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact information
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN
    </dd>

  </div>

  <div class="nhsuk-summary-list__row">
    <dt class="nhsuk-summary-list__key">
      Contact details
    </dt>
    <dd class="nhsuk-summary-list__value">
      <p>07700 900362</p>
      <p>karen.francis@example.com</p>
    </dd>

  </div>

</dl>
Copy 
{% from "summary-list/macro.njk" import summaryList %}

{{ summaryList({
  classes: 'nhsuk-summary-list--no-border',
  rows: [
    {
      key: {
        text: "Name"
      },
      value: {
        text: "Karen Francis"
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Date of birth"
      },
      value: {
        text: "15 March 1984"
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact information"
      },
      value: {
        html: "73 Roman Rd<br>Leeds<br> LS2 5ZN"
      }
    },
    {
      key: {
        text: "Contact details"
      },
      value: {
        html: '<p>07700 900362</p><p>karen.francis@example.com</p>'
      }
    }
  ]
}) }}

Research

We have tested this component in the NHS in labs and in live services, with and without actions and borders. It has been through several accessibility audits.

Next steps

It is an established GOV.UK component but we want more NHS services to test it in a health context. We are interested, for example, in how it fits into patterns like the GOV.UK Help users to check answers pattern.

If you've used summary lists, please share your user research findings.

Help improve this page

The manual is a community effort. Anyone can help improve and grow it.

To help make sure the Summary list guidance is useful, relevant and up to date, you can:

Need help?

If you’ve got a question about the NHS digital service manual or want to feedback, get in touch.

Updated: November 2019