DOM (Document Object Model) is a method for representing the structure of a document, typically HTML or XML documents, in the form of an object tree. Through the DOM, developers can read, modify, add, or remove elements from a web page and interact with users.
What is the DOM?
- Structure: The DOM represents the logical structure of a web page. Each element in an HTML document is represented as a node in the DOM tree.
- Interactivity: Through the DOM, developers can modify or control elements on the web page using JavaScript, such as updating text, adding or removing classes, changing the state of buttons, and more.
- Tree Structure: The DOM resembles a tree, where each element, attribute, and text is considered a node, and they are connected through parent-child relationships.
The Difference Between HTML and the DOM:
- HTML:
- HTML is a markup language that defines the structure and content of a web page.
- HTML serves as a static document and determines how the web page will initially appear.
- It is simply a text file that is read and displayed by the browser.
- DOM:
- The DOM, on the other hand, is a dynamic structure created by the browser from the HTML document.
- By reading the HTML, the browser stores this structure in memory, allowing the page to be controlled via JavaScript.
- The DOM allows interaction with and dynamic modification of elements in the HTML document.
Conclusion
- HTML is the original structure and content of a web page, while DOM is the dynamic model created by the browser to programmatically manage that structure. HTML is static and written, whereas the DOM is interactive and can be modified using JavaScript.
