Which HTML element is used to create a descriptive list?

The HTML element used to create a descriptive list is the <dl> tag. This tag stands for "description list" and is specifically designed to pair terms with their descriptions. Within a <dl>, you typically find <dt> tags for the terms (the items being described) and <dd> tags for the descriptions themselves.

Using <dl> is particularly useful when you want to present data in a way that indicates a relationship between terms and their definitions or explanations, such as in glossaries or technical specifications. This structured format helps browsers and assistive technologies clearly convey the relationship between the terms and their descriptions to users.

The other elements mentioned serve different purposes: <ol> is for ordered lists, <ul> is for unordered lists, and <li> is used for list items within any type of list. These do not serve the function of creating a descriptive pairing of terms and definitions, making <dl> the correct choice for this specific usage.