Glossary · Information types

DITA concept

Also known as: concept topic, concept

In DITA, a concept is a topic type for conceptual information: it answers “what is” questions and gives the background a reader needs to understand a product, process or idea. Its body element is <conbody>.

DITA
Information typing

In one sentence

A DITA concept is the topic type for background knowledge: what something is, how it works and why it matters.

Example

The concept “How the air filter works” explains air flow and filter classes before the task “Replacing the air filter”.

Explained in context

Context cards connect this term with others to answer one question. Also in British English and German.

How it applies

Technical documentation: Concepts explain what something is, how it works and why it matters — the background a reader needs before performing a task safely and correctly.
Structure: A concept body (<conbody>) contains paragraphs, lists, figures and tables, and may be divided into <section> and <example> elements. Sections cannot nest, which keeps concepts short.
AI and retrieval: Concepts answer “what is” and “why” questions. Linking each task to its concept (for example through a relationship table) gives a retrieval system the context to explain an answer, not only list steps.

Concept vs. reference

A concept explains and is read from beginning to end. A reference lists facts — values, parameters, commands — and is scanned for a single item.

In DITA markup

<concept id="filter-basics">
  <title>How the air filter works</title>
  <shortdesc>The air filter keeps dust out of the motor housing.</shortdesc>
  <conbody>
    <p>Air enters through the front grille and passes the filter mat …</p>
  </conbody>
</concept>