##### 3.2.3.1 reference

The <reference> element defines a top-level container for a reference topic. Reference topics document programming constructs or facts about a product. Examples of reference topics include (but are not limited to) product specifications, environmental specifications, equipment lists, parts lists, required tools, language elements, class descriptions, commands, functions, and API information. All of these items provide quick access to facts, but no deeper explanation of related concepts or tasks. Reference topics have the same high-level structure as any other topic type, with a title, short description, and body. Within the body, reference topics are typically organized into one or more sections, property lists, and tables. The reference topic type provides general rules that apply to all kinds of reference information, using elements like <refsyn> for syntax or signatures, and <properties> for lists of properties and values.

###### Contains

Doctype | Content model
ditabase | ( (title) then (titlealts) (optional) then (abstract or shortdesc) (optional) then (prolog) (optional) then (refbody) (optional) then (related-links) (optional) then (topic or concept or task or reference or glossentry or glossgroup) (any number) )
reference | ( (title) then (titlealts) (optional) then (abstract or shortdesc) (optional) then (prolog) (optional) then (refbody) (optional) then (related-links) (optional) then (reference) (any number) )
learningContent | ( (title) then (titlealts) (optional) then (abstract or shortdesc) (optional) then (prolog) (optional) then (refbody) (optional) then (related-links) (optional) then ( (no-topic-nesting) (optional) ) (any number) )

###### Contained by

Doctype | Content model
ditabase | dita, topic, concept, task, reference
reference | reference
learningContent | learningContent

###### Inheritance

- topic/topic reference/reference

###### Example

Figure 3-48 Reference topic for software material

    <reference id="refexample">
      <title>A reference topic/title>
      <refbody>
        <refsyn>Describe command or api syntax here, possibly
    using synph or syntax elements markup for explicit
    definition of syntax or prototype construction.</refsyn>
        <section><title>Some section title</title></section>
        <properties>
          <property>
            <proptype>type</proptype>
            <propvalue>value</propvalue>
            <propdesc>description</propdesc>
          </property>
        </properties>
      </refbody>
    </reference>

Figure 3-49 Reference topic for hardware maintenance

The following information could apply to an entire set of maintenance procedures, each of which would link to this topic.

    <reference id="requiredTools">
      <title>Tools required to maintain a big machine</title>
      <refbody>
        <section>
          <title>Small tools</title>
    		  <ul>
            <li>Hard hat</li>
            <li>Hammer</li>
            <li>Nail</li>
            <li>Metal polish</li>
            <!-- .... -->
          </ul>
        </section>
        <section>
          <title>Expensive tools</title>
          ...
        </section>
      </refbody>
    </reference>

###### Attributes

Name | Description | Data Type | Default Value | Required?
id | This ID enables topics to be referenced uniquely by topicrefs in DITA maps. | ID |  | Yes
conref-atts attribute group (conref, conrefend, conaction, conkeyref) | A set of related attributes; includes all of the attributes described in 3.4.1.4 id-atts attribute group except for the id attribute. |  |  |
xmlns:ditaarch | Declares the default DITA namespace. |  | "http://dita.​oasis-open.​org/​architecture/​2005/" |
DITAArchVersion | Designates the version of the architecture that is in use. The default value will increase with each release of DITA. | CDATA | "1.2" | No
domains | Indicates the specialized domains that are included in the DTD or Schema. This value will differ depending on what domains are included in the current DTD or Schema. | CDATA | Varies based on the DTD or Schema; a sample value is "(topic ui-d) (topic hi-d) (topic pr-d) (topic sw-d) (topic ut-d) (topic indexing-d)" | No
select-atts attribute group (props, base, platform, product, audience, otherprops, importance, rev, status) | A set of related attributes, described in 3.4.1.5 select-atts attribute group |  |  |
localization-atts attribute group (translate, xml:lang, dir) | A set of related attributes, described in 3.4.1.6 localization-atts attribute group. |  |  |
global-atts attribute group (xtrf, xtrc) | A set of related attributes, described in 3.4.1.2 global-atts attribute group |  |  |
class, outputclass | Common attributes described in 3.4.1.9 Other common DITA attributes |  |  |

Previous Topic: 3.2.3 Reference elements

Next Topic: 3.2.3.2 refbody

Parent Topic: 3.2.3 Reference elements

Sibling Topics:

3.2.3.2 refbody

3.2.3.3 refbodydiv

3.2.3.4 refsyn

3.2.3.5 properties

3.2.3.6 prophead

3.2.3.7 proptypehd

3.2.3.8 propvaluehd

3.2.3.9 propdeschd

3.2.3.10 property

3.2.3.11 proptype

3.2.3.12 propvalue

3.2.3.13 propdesc