DHTML Introduction

DHTML is the art of combining HTML, JavaScript, DOM, and CSS.

What you should already know

Before you continue you should have a basic understanding of the following:

• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript

If you want to study these subjects first, find the tutorials on our Home Page.

DHTML is NOT a Language

DHTML stands for Dynamic HTML.

DHTML is NOT a language or a web standard.

To most people DHTML means the combination of HTML, JavaScript, DOM and CSS.

According to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C):
"Dynamic HTML is a term used by some vendors to describe the combination of HTML, style sheets and scripts that allows documents to be animated."

HTML

The W3C HTML 4 standard has rich support for dynamic content:

• HTML supports JavaScript
• HTML supports the Document Object Model (DOM)
• HTML supports HTML Events
• HTML supports Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

DHTML is about using these features, to create dynamic and interactive web pages.

JavaScript

JavaScript is the most popular scripting language on the internet, and it works in all major browsers.

DHTML is about using JavaScript to control, access and manipulate HTML elements.

You can read more about JavaScript in the next chapter of this tutorial.

HTML DOM

The HTML DOM is a W3C standard. It describes the Document Object Model for HTML.

The HTML DOM defines a standard way for accessing and manipulating HTML documents.

DHTML is about using the DOM to access and manipulate HTML elements.

You can read more about the HTML DOM in a later chapter of this tutorial.

HTML Events

HTML events are a part of the HTML DOM.

DHTML is about creating web pages that reacts to (user)events.

You can read more about events in a later chapter of this tutorial.

CSS

CSS defines how to display HTML elements.

DHTML is about using JavaScript and the HTML DOM to change the style and positioning of HTML elements.

You can read more about CSS in a later chapter of this tutorial.

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