The HTML DOM API

The HTML DOM API is made up of the interfaces that define the functionality of each of the elements in HTML, as well as any supporting types and interfaces they rely upon.

The functional areas included in the HTML DOM API include:

  • Access to and control of HTML elements via the DOM.
  • Access to and manipulation of form data.
  • Interacting with the contents of 2D images and the context of an HTML <canvas>, for example to draw on top of them.
  • Management of media connected to the HTML media elements (<audio> and <video>).
  • Dragging and dropping of content on webpages.
  • Access to the browser navigation history
  • Supporting and connective interfaces for other APIs such as Web Components, Web Storage, Web Workers, WebSocket, and Server-sent events.

HTML DOM concepts and usage

In this article, we'll focus on the parts of the HTML DOM that involve engaging with HTML elements. Discussion of other areas, such as Drag and Drop, WebSockets, Web Storage, etc. can be found in the documentation for those APIs.

Structure of an HTML document

The Document Object Model (DOM) is an architecture that describes the structure of a document; each document is represented by an instance of the interface Document. A document, in turn, consists of a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a node is a fundamental record representing a single object within the document (such as an element or text node).

Nodes may be strictly organizational, providing a means for grouping other nodes together or for providing a point at which a hierarchy can be constructed; other nodes may represent visible components of a document. Each node is based on the Node interface, which provides properties for getting information about the node as well as methods for creating, deleting, and organizing nodes within the DOM.

Nodes don't have any concept of including the content that is actually displayed in the document. They're empty vessels. The fundamental notion of a node that can represent visual content is introduced by the Element interface. An Element object instance represents a single element in a document created using either HTML or an XML vocabulary such as SVG.

For example, consider a document with two elements, one of which has two more elements nested inside it:

Structure of a document with elements inside a document in a window

While the Document interface is defined as part of the DOM specification, the HTML specification significantly enhances it to add information specific to using the DOM in the context of a web browser, as well as to using it to represent HTML documents specifically.

Among the things added to Document by the HTML standard are:

HTML element interfaces

The Element interface has been further adapted to represent HTML elements specifically by introducing the HTMLElement interface, which all more specific HTML element classes inherit from. This expands the Element class to add HTML-specific general features to the element nodes. Properties added by HTMLElement include for example hidden and innerText. HTMLElement also adds all the global event handlers.

An HTML document is a DOM tree in which each of the nodes is an HTML element, represented by the HTMLElement interface. The HTMLElement class, in turn, implements Node, so every element is also a node (but not the other way around). This way, the structural features implemented by the Node interface are also available to HTML elements, allowing them to be nested within each other, created and deleted, moved around, and so forth.

The HTMLElement interface is generic, however, providing only the functionality common to all HTML elements such as the element's ID, its coordinates, the HTML making up the element, information about scroll position, and so forth.

In order to expand upon the functionality of the core HTMLElement interface to provide the features needed by a specific element, the HTMLElement class is subclassed to add the needed properties and methods. For example, the <canvas> element is represented by an object of type HTMLCanvasElement. HTMLCanvasElement augments the HTMLElement type by adding properties such as height and methods like getContext() to provide canvas-specific features.

The overall inheritance for HTML element classes looks like this:

Hierarchy of interfaces for HTML elements

As such, an element inherits the properties and methods of all of its ancestors. For example, consider a <a> element, which is represented in the DOM by an object of type HTMLAnchorElement. The element, then, includes the anchor-specific properties and methods described in that class's documentation, but also those defined by HTMLElement and Element, as well as from Node and, finally, EventTarget.

Each level defines a key aspect of the utility of the element. From Node, the element inherits concepts surrounding the ability for the element to be contained by another element, and to contain other elements itself. Of special importance is what is gained by inheriting from EventTarget: the ability to receive and handle events such as mouse clicks, play and pause events, and so forth.

There are elements that share commonalities and thus have an additional intermediary type. For example, the <audio> and <video> elements both present audiovisual media. The corresponding types, HTMLAudioElement and HTMLVideoElement, are both based upon the common type HTMLMediaElement, which in turn is based upon HTMLElement and so forth. HTMLMediaElement defines the methods and properties held in common between audio and video elements.

These element-specific interfaces make up the majority of the HTML DOM API, and are the focus of this article. To learn more about the actual structure of the DOM, see Introduction to the DOM.

HTML DOM target audience

The features exposed by the HTML DOM are among the most commonly-used APIs in the web developer's arsenal. All but the most simple web applications will use some features of the HTML DOM.

HTML DOM API interfaces

The majority of the interfaces that comprise the HTML DOM API map almost one-to-one to individual HTML elements, or to a small group of elements with similar functionality. In addition, the HTML DOM API includes a few interfaces and types to support the HTML element interfaces.

HTML element interfaces

These interfaces represent specific HTML elements (or sets of related elements which have the same properties and methods associated with them).

Deprecated HTML Element Interfaces

Obsolete HTML Element Interfaces

Web app and browser integration interfaces

These interfaces offer access to the browser window and document that contain the HTML, as well as to the browser's state, available plugins (if any), and various configuration options.

Deprecated web app and browser integration interfaces

Obsolete web app and browser integration interfaces

Form support interfaces

These interfaces provide structure and functionality required by the elements used to create and manage forms, including the <form> and <input> elements.

Canvas and image interfaces

These interfaces represent objects used by the Canvas API as well as the <img> element and <picture> elements.

Media interfaces

The media interfaces provide HTML access to the contents of the media elements: <audio> and <video>.

Drag and drop interfaces

These interfaces are used by the HTML_Drag_and_Drop_API to represent individual draggable (or dragged) items, groups of dragged or draggable items, and to handle the drag and drop process.

Page history interfaces

The History API interfaces let you access information about the browser's history, as well as to shift the browser's current tab forward and backward through that history.

Web Components interfaces

These interfaces are used by the Web Components API to create and manage the available custom elements.

Miscellaneous and supporting interfaces

These supporting object types are used in a variety of ways in the HTML DOM API. In addition, PromiseRejectionEvent represents the event delivered when a JavaScript Promise is rejected.

Interfaces belonging to other APIs

Several interfaces are technically defined in the HTML specification while actually being part of other APIs.

Web storage interfaces

The Web_Storage_API provides the ability for web sites to store data either temporarily or permanently on the user's device for later re-use.

Web Workers interfaces

These interfaces are used by the Web_Workers_API both to establish the ability for workers to interact with an app and its content, but also to support messaging between windows or apps.

WebSocket interfaces

These interfaces, defined by the HTML specification, are used by the WebSockets_API.

Server-sent events interfaces

The EventSource interface represents the source which sent or is sending server-sent events.

Examples

In this example, an <input> element's input event is monitored in order to update the state of a form's "submit" button based on whether or not a given field currently has a value.

JavaScript

const nameField = document.getElementById("userName");
const sendButton = document.getElementById("sendButton")

sendButton.disabled = true;
// [note: this is disabled since it causes this article to always load with this example focused and scrolled into view]
//nameField.focus();

nameField.addEventListener("input", event => {
  const elem = event.target;
  const valid = elem.value.length != 0;

  if (valid && sendButton.disabled) {
    sendButton.disabled = false;
  } else if (!valid && !sendButton.disabled) {
    sendButton.disabled = true;
  }
});

This code uses the Document interface's getElementById() method to get the DOM object representing the <input> elements whose IDs are userName and sendButton. With these, we can access the properties and methods that provide information about and grant control over these elements.

The HTMLInputElement object for the "Send" button's disabled property is set to true, which disables the "Send" button so it can't be clicked. In addition, the user name input field is made the active focus by calling the focus() method it inherits from HTMLElement.

Then addEventListener() is called to add a handler for the input event to the user name input. This code looks at the length of the current value of the input; if it's zero, then the "Send" button is disabled if it's not already disabled. Otherwise, the code ensures that the button is enabled.

With this in place, the "Send" button is always enabled whenever the user name input field has a value, and disabled when it's empty.

HTML

The HTML for the form looks like this:

<p>Please provide the information below. Items marked with "*" are required.</p>
<form action="" method="get">
  <p>
    <label for="userName" required>Your name:</label>
    <input type="text" id="userName"> (*)
  </p>
  <p>
    <label for="email">Email:</label>
    <input type="email" id="userEmail">
  </p>
  <input type="submit" value="Send" id="sendButton">
</form>

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard Living Standard WHATWG HTML Specification
HTML5 Recommendation No change from Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 HTML Specification
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 HTML Specification Obsolete No change from Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification.
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification Obsolete Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
HTML_DOM_API
1
12
1
5.5
8
1.3
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
accessKey
17
12
5
5.5
≤12.1
6
4.4
18
5
≤12.1
6
1.0
accessKeyLabel
No
No
8
No
No
14
No
No
8
No
14
No
animationcancel_event
No
No
54
No
No
13.1
12
No
No
54
No
13.4
12
No
animationend_event
43
12
Yes
10
30
9
43
43
Yes
30
9
4.0
animationiteration_event
43
12
51
10
30
9
43
43
51
30
9
4.0
animationstart_event
43
12
51
10
30
9
43
43
51
30
9
4.0
attachInternals
77
79
93
No
64
No
77
77
93
55
No
12.0
autocapitalize
66
79
83
No
53
No
66
66
83
47
10.3
9.0
autofocus
79
1-79
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
79
12-79
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
1
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
10
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
66
≤12.1-66
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
4
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
79
≤37-79
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
79
18-79
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
4
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
57
≤12.1-57
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
3.2
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
12.0
1.0-12.0
Supported for HTMLButtonElement, HTMLInputElement, HTMLSelectElement, and HTMLTextAreaElement.
beforeinput_event
Yes
79
87
74-87
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
87
79-87
Yes
Yes
Yes
blur
1
12
1.5
5.5
8
3
4.4
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
click
9
Before Chrome 19, click() is only defined on buttons and inputs.
12
3
["Before Firefox 5, click() is only defined on buttons and inputs, and has no effect on text and file inputs.", "Starting in Firefox 75, the click() function works even when the element is not attached to a DOM tree."]
5.5
10.5
6
≤37
Before Android WebView 4.4, click() is only defined on buttons and inputs.
18
Before Chrome 19, click() is only defined on buttons and inputs.
4
["Before Firefox 5, click() is only defined on buttons and inputs, and has no effect on text and file inputs.", "Starting in Firefox for Android 79, the click() function works even when the element is not attached to a DOM tree."]
11
6
1.0
Before Samsung Internet 1.5, click() is only defined on buttons and inputs.
contentEditable
1
12
3
5.5
9
3
4.4
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
contextMenu
45-61
≤18-79
85
8-85
No
No
No
45-61
45-61
85
8-85
No
No
5.0-8.0
dataset
8
12
6
11
11
5.1
4.4
18
6
11
5
1.0
dir
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
3
4.4
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
draggable
3
12
2
10
12
5
4.4
18
4
12
4
1.0
enterKeyHint
77
79
94
79-94
No
64
13.1
77
77
94
55
13.4
12.0
focus
1
12
1.5
5.5
8
3
4.4
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
gotpointercapture_event
57
17
59
No
44
13
57
57
79
43
13
7.0
hidden
6
12
1
11
11.6
5.1
≤37
18
4
12
5
1.0
inert
60
79
81
No
47
No
No
60
81
44
No
No
innerText
1
12
45
5.5
9.6
3
4.4
18
45
10.1
1
1.0
input_event
1
79
12-79
Not supported on select, checkbox, or radio inputs.
6
9
Only supports input of type text and password.
11.6
3.1
1
18
6
12
2
1.0
inputMode
66
79
77
No
53
12.1
66
66
79
47
12.2
9.0
isContentEditable
1
12
4
5.5
≤12.1
3
4.4
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
itemId
17-28
No
16-49
No
11-15
No
No
18-28
16-49
11-14
No
1.0-1.5
itemProp
17-28
No
16-49
No
11-15
No
No
18-28
16-49
11-14
No
1.0-1.5
itemRef
17-28
No
16-49
No
11-15
No
No
18-28
16-49
11-14
No
1.0-1.5
itemScope
17-28
No
16-49
No
11-15
No
No
18-28
16-49
11-14
No
1.0-1.5
itemType
17-28
No
16-49
No
11-15
No
No
18-28
16-49
11-14
No
1.0-1.5
itemValue
17-28
No
16-49
No
11-15
No
No
18-28
16-49
11-14
No
1.0-1.5
lang
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
3
4.4
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
lostpointercapture_event
57
17
59
No
44
13
57
57
79
43
13
7.0
nonce
61
79
75
No
48
10
The property is defined only for its useful elements: <link>, <script>, and <style>; it is undefined for all other elements.
61
61
79
45
10
The property is defined only for its useful elements: <link>, <script>, and <style>; it is undefined for all other elements.
8.0
offsetHeight
1
12
1
5.5
8
3
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
offsetLeft
1
12
1
5.5
8
3
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
offsetParent
1
12
1
5.5
8
3
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
offsetTop
1
12
1
5.5
8
3
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
offsetWidth
1
12
1
5.5
8
3
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
oncopy
1
12
3
5.5
≤12.1
3
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
oncut
1
12
9
5.5
≤12.1
3
1
18
9
≤12.1
1
1.0
onpaste
1
12
9
5.5
≤12.1
3
1
18
9
≤12.1
1
1.0
outerText
43
12
No
5.5
≤12.1
1.3
43
43
No
≤12.1
1
4.0
pointercancel_event
55
12
12-79
59
29
11
10
42
13
55
55
79
29
42
13
6.0
pointerdown_event
55
12
12-79
59
29
11
10
42
13
55
55
79
29
42
13
6.0
pointerenter_event
55
12
12-79
59
29
11
10
42
13
55
55
79
29
42
13
6.0
pointerleave_event
55
12
12-79
59
29
11
10
42
13
55
55
79
29
42
13
6.0
pointermove_event
55
12
12-79
59
29
11
10
42
13
55
55
79
29
42
13
6.0
pointerout_event
55
12
12-79
59
29
11
10
42
13
55
55
79
29
42
13
6.0
pointerover_event
55
12
12-79
59
29
11
10
42
13
55
55
79
29
42
13
6.0
pointerrawupdate_event
77
79
No
No
64
No
77
77
No
55
No
12.0
pointerup_event
55
12
12-79
59
29
11
10
42
13
55
55
79
29
42
13
6.0
spellcheck
9
12
2
10
≤12.1
5.1
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
5
1.0
tabIndex
1
18
12
Returns incorrect value for elements without an explicit tabindex attribute. See issue 4365703 for details.
1
5.5
Returns incorrect value for elements without an explicit tabindex attribute. See issue 4365703 for details.
≤12.1
3.1
4.4
18
4
≤12.1
2
1.0
title
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
3
4.4
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
transitioncancel_event
74
≤79
53
?
62
13.1
12
74
74
53
53
13.4
12
11.0
transitionend_event
26
1
≤79
≤79
51
10
12.1
15
11.6-15
7
4
≤37
≤37
26
18
51
12.1
14
12-14
7
3.2
1.5
1.0
transitionrun_event
74
≤79
53
?
62
13.1
12
74
74
53
53
13.4
12
11.0
transitionstart_event
74
≤79
53
?
62
13.1
12
74
74
53
53
13.4
12
11.0
translate
19
79
No
No
15
6
4.4
25
No
14
6
1.5
attributeStyleMap
66
79
No
No
53
No
66
66
No
47
No
9.0
style
1
12
1
5.5
8
3
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0

See also

References

Guides

© 2005–2021 MDN contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/HTML_DOM_API