<audience>

Since a topic can have multiple audiences, you can include multiple audience elements. For each audience you specify, you can identify the high-level task they are trying to accomplish with the @job attribute, and the level of experience expected with the @experiencelevel attribute. The <audience> element can be used to provide a more detailed definition of values used throughout the map or topic on the @audience attribute.

Many of the attributes on the <audience> element have enumerated values, which can be restricted by using constraints or extended by using associated attributes. For instance, the @othertype attribute can be used to extend the audience type enumeration.

Content models

See appendix for information about this element in OASIS document type shells.

Inheritance

- topic/audience

Attributes

The following attributes are available on this element: Universal attribute group and the attributes defined below.

@type

Indicates the kind of person for whom the content of the topic is intended. Note that this differs from the @type attribute on many other DITA elements. Beginning with DITA 1.2, values in this attribute are not limited to a small number of choices; the following values were used in DITA 1.0 and DITA 1.1, and are still provided as sample values: user, purchaser, administrator, programmer, executive, services, other, and -dita-use-conref-target.

@othertype

Indicates an alternate audience type, when the type is not available in the @type attribute value list. This value is used as the user-provided audience when the @type attribute value is set to "other."

@job

Indicates the high-level task the audience for the topic is trying to accomplish. Different audiences might read the same topic in terms of different high-level tasks; for example, an administrator might read the topic while administering, while a programmer might read the same topic while customizing. Beginning with DITA 1.2, values in this attribute are not limited to a small number of choices; the following values were used in DITA 1.0 and DITA 1.1, and are still provided as sample values: installing, customizing, administering, programming, using, maintaining, troubleshooting, evaluating, planning, migrating, other, and -dita-use-conref-target.

@otherjob

If the @job attribute value is "other" the value of this attribute is used to identify a kind of job other than the default ones provided by the @job attribute.

@experiencelevel

Indicates the level of experience the audience is assumed to possess. Different audiences might have different experience levels with respect to the same topic; for example, a topic might require general knowledge from a programmer, but expert knowledge from a user. Beginning with DITA 1.2, values in this attribute are not limited to a small number of choices; the following values were used in DITA 1.0 and DITA 1.1, and are still provided as sample values: novice, general, expert, and -dita-use-conref-target.

@name

Used to associate the <audience> element with values used in the @audience attribute.