The @type attribute

On linking elements, the @type attribute describes the target of a reference. The @type attribute is also used on several non-linking elements for other purposes.

This topic describes how to interpret the @type attribute when it is used on linking elements. Usage information for the @type attribute on other elements, such as <note> or <copyright>, is described in the element reference topics for those elements.

If the @type attribute is specified on a linking element that references DITA content, the attribute value should reflect the @class attribute of the referenced element. The value can be an unqualified local name, for example, fig, or a qualified name exactly as specified in the @class attribute, for example, topic/fig. Processors might ignore qualified names or consider only the local name.

If not explicitly specified on an element, the @type attribute value cascades from the closest containing element. If there is no explicit value for the @type attribute specified on an ancestor element, the processor should retrieve the type from the target resource, if it is available. If the type cannot be determined, the processing default is topic.

Applications MAY issue a warning when the specified or inherited @type attribute value does not match the target or a specialization ancestor of the target. Applications MAY recover from this error condition by using the correct value detected.

Only the <xref> element can link to content below the topic level. The other linking elements only can link to topics.

The following table lists values for the @type attribute that are commonly used on <xref> elements:

Value	Target element
fig	<fig>
fn	<fn>
li	<li>
section	<section>
table	<table>

An application might generate cross-reference text that is based the value of the @format attribute.

-dita-use-conref-target is also a valid value for the @type attribute. See Using the -dita-use-conref-target value for more information.