Skip to main content

DOM vs. HTML vs. CSS (Live Playground)

In this tutorial, we will explain the differences between the DOM, HTML, and CSS, and how they work together in web development to create web pages that are both visually appealing and interactive.

HTML: The Structure of a Web Page​

HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the standard markup language used to create the structure of a web page. HTML uses tags, also known as elements, to define the different parts of a web page, such as headings, paragraphs, images, and links.

An HTML file consists of a series of elements that are nested within each other to create the structure of the web page. Each element is represented by an opening tag, such as <p>, and a closing tag, such as </p>.

Here's a simple example of an HTML file:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>My First Web Page</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Welcome to My Web Page!</h1>
    <p>This is a paragraph of text.</p>
  </body>
</html>

CSS: The Style of a Web Page​

CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, is a stylesheet language used to control the appearance and layout of HTML elements on a web page. CSS allows you to apply styles, such as colors, fonts, and spacing, to your HTML elements.

A CSS file consists of a series of rules that define the styles for specific elements or groups of elements on a web page. Each rule consists of a selector, which identifies the elements to be styled, and a set of declarations, which define the styles to be applied.

Here's a simple example of a CSS file:

body {
  background-color: lightblue;
}

h1 {
  color: white;
  text-align: center;
}

p {
  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
  font-size: 16px;
}

DOM: The Interaction between HTML and JavaScript​

The DOM, or Document Object Model, is a programming interface that allows you to interact with HTML and XML documents using JavaScript. The DOM represents the structure of a document as a tree of objects, with each object representing a part of the document, such as an element, attribute, or text.

Using JavaScript and the DOM, you can access and manipulate the elements and content of a web page to create dynamic and interactive web pages. You can update the text content of an element, change its attributes or styles, add or remove elements, and respond to user actions, such as clicks or keypresses.

Here's a simple example of JavaScript code that uses the DOM to change the text content of a paragraph element:

document.getElementById('myParagraph').textContent = 'This is the updated text.';
Live Playground, Try it Yourself

How DOM, HTML, and CSS Work Together​

The DOM, HTML, and CSS work together to create web pages that are both visually appealing and interactive:

  1. HTML provides the structure and content of the web page.
  2. CSS controls the appearance and layout of the HTML elements on the page.
  3. The DOM allows JavaScript to interact with the HTML elements, enabling dynamic and interactive behavior.

When a web page is loaded in a browser, the browser first reads the HTML file and constructs the DOM tree, which represents the structure of the page. Next, the browser applies the CSS styles to the appropriate elements in the DOM tree, creating the final visual presentation of the web page. Finally, JavaScript can be used to access and manipulate the DOM tree, allowing for dynamic updates and user interactions.

In summary, understanding the differences and relationships between the DOM, HTML, and CSS is essential for web developers. By mastering these three components, you'll be well-equipped to create web pages that are not only visually appealing but also interactive and engaging for users.