Allow :ref: role to be used with definitions and fields

CHANGES

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Features added
   parameter lists and the declaration.
 - #10755: linkcheck: Check the source URL of raw directives that use the ``url``
   option.
+- #10781: Allow :rst:role:`ref` role to be used with definitions and fields.
 
 Bugs fixed
 ----------

sphinx/domains/std.py

@@ -757,12 +757,21 @@ def process_doc(self, env: "BuildEnvironment", docname: str, document: nodes.doc
                 if not sectname:
                     continue
             else:
-                toctree = next(node.findall(addnodes.toctree), None)
-                if toctree and toctree.get('caption'):
-                    sectname = toctree.get('caption')
+                if (isinstance(node, (nodes.definition_list,
+                                      nodes.field_list)) and
+                        node.children):
+                    node = cast(nodes.Element, node.children[0])
+                if isinstance(node, (nodes.field, nodes.definition_list_item)):
+                    node = cast(nodes.Element, node.children[0])
+                if isinstance(node, (nodes.term, nodes.field_name)):
+                    sectname = clean_astext(node)
                 else:
-                    # anonymous-only labels
-                    continue
+                    toctree = next(node.findall(addnodes.toctree), None)
+                    if toctree and toctree.get('caption'):
+                        sectname = toctree.get('caption')
+                    else:
+                        # anonymous-only labels
+                        continue
             self.labels[name] = docname, labelid, sectname
 
     def add_program_option(self, program: str, name: str, docname: str, labelid: str) -> None:

tests/test_domain_std.py

@@ -445,3 +445,43 @@ def test_labeled_rubric(app):
     domain = app.env.get_domain("std")
     assert 'label' in domain.labels
     assert domain.labels['label'] == ('index', 'label', 'blah blah blah')
+
+
+def test_labeled_definition(app):
+    text = (".. _label1:\n"
+            "\n"
+            "Foo blah *blah* blah\n"
+            "  Definition\n"
+            "\n"
+            ".. _label2:\n"
+            "\n"
+            "Bar blah *blah* blah\n"
+            "  Definition\n"
+            "\n")
+    restructuredtext.parse(app, text)
+
+    domain = app.env.get_domain("std")
+    assert 'label1' in domain.labels
+    assert domain.labels['label1'] == ('index', 'label1', 'Foo blah blah blah')
+    assert 'label2' in domain.labels
+    assert domain.labels['label2'] == ('index', 'label2', 'Bar blah blah blah')
+
+
+def test_labeled_field(app):
+    text = (".. _label1:\n"
+            "\n"
+            ":Foo blah *blah* blah:\n"
+            "  Definition\n"
+            "\n"
+            ".. _label2:\n"
+            "\n"
+            ":Bar blah *blah* blah:\n"
+            "  Definition\n"
+            "\n")
+    restructuredtext.parse(app, text)
+
+    domain = app.env.get_domain("std")
+    assert 'label1' in domain.labels
+    assert domain.labels['label1'] == ('index', 'label1', 'Foo blah blah blah')
+    assert 'label2' in domain.labels
+    assert domain.labels['label2'] == ('index', 'label2', 'Bar blah blah blah')