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# Introduction to HTML DOM * * * The HTML DOM defines the standard for accessing and manipulating HTML documents. * * * ## Prerequisites Before continuing, you should have a basic understanding of the following: * HTML * CSS * JavaScript If you need to learn these topics first, please visit our (#) page. * * * ## What is the DOM? The DOM is a standard defined by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). The DOM defines the standard for accessing HTML and XML documents: > "The W3C Document Object Model (DOM) is a platform- and language-neutral interface that allows programs and scripts to dynamically access and update the content, structure, and style of documents." The W3C DOM standard is divided into three different parts: * Core DOM – a standard model for any structured document * XML DOM – a standard model for XML documents * HTML DOM – a standard model for HTML documents **Editor's Note:** DOM stands for Document Object Model. * * * ## What is the XML DOM? The XML DOM defines the _objects_ and _properties_ of all XML elements, as well as the _methods_ for accessing them. If you need to learn about the XML DOM, please visit our (#). * * * ## What is the HTML DOM? The HTML DOM is: * The standard object model for HTML * The standard programming interface for HTML * A W3C standard The HTML DOM defines the _objects_ and _properties_ of all HTML elements, as well as the _methods_ for accessing them. _In other words, the HTML DOM is the standard for how to get, change, add, or delete HTML elements._