The Document Object Model (DOM) is a programming interface for web documents. It represents the structure and content of an HTML or XML document as a tree of objects, with each object representing a part of the document, such as an element, an attribute, or a piece of text. The DOM provides a way for web developers to interact with and manipulate the content and structure of web documents dynamically.
The DOM tree is organized hierarchically, with the top-level object being the “document” object, which represents the entire HTML or XML document. Below the document object, there are objects representing various elements such as headings, paragraphs, images, links, and forms, which are nested within each other based on their hierarchical relationships in the markup. These objects, referred to as “nodes,” can be accessed and manipulated using scripting languages such as JavaScript, allowing web developers to dynamically change the content, structure, and presentation of web pages in real-time.
The DOM provides a standardized way for web browsers to expose the structure and content of web documents, allowing web developers to create dynamic and interactive web applications. By using the DOM, web developers can access, modify, and manipulate the content and structure of web pages, enabling features such as form validation, dynamic content updates, animations, and more.