Dynamic HTML is really just HTML with a few new elements plus access to those elements via a scripting language. The new elements give you more precise control over how your page looks and the new object model lets you manipulate those elements programmatically using scripts.Dynamic HTML is really just HTML with a few new elements plus access to those elements via a scripting language. The new elements give you more precise control over how your page looks and the new object model lets you manipulate those elements programmatically using scripts.

Originally, HTML was designed to use free-flowing layouts. You had little control over how your text and images were displayed on the page. This was in anticipation of pages being viewed on a variety of platforms and machines with different screen sizes and available system fonts.

Later, the <table> and <font> tags were added to allow a little more control over content layout and style. But these still had their limitations. JavaScript was introduced to allowed for some manipulation of certain page elements, such as images and form inputs, through programming but was also somewhat limited.

Now, DHTML has added elements that give you precise control over the look of your page. These elements are:

• Style Sheets let you define different styles for text presentation, such as color, margin size and fonts.
• Content Positioning let's you determine exactly where elements of your page appear within the browser window. Elements can even overlap, be hidden or be moved dynamically.
• Downloadable Fonts ensure that the font you choose for text will be used even if that font is not available on the client's machine.

The Document Object Model (DOM) defines both the properties of various page elements and the methods used to change them. Using scripts, you can dynamically alter the content of your page. For example, changes can be made based on the particular browser being used or in response to a user action.

Browser Compatibility
Both Netscape and Microsoft offer browsers that support DHTML but they differ in both accepted HTML syntax and scripting code.

DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware.

More DHTML Articles
More By MikeHall

 

developerWorks - FREE Tools!

IBM – Taking Web 2.0 to Work You'll get answers to many questions and more from David Barnes, Lead Evangelist for IBM Emerging Internet Technologies. David will discuss aspects of Web 2.0 that bring value to corporations, academia, and government. He'll also discuss IBM's vision around Web 2.0, including the importance of remixability and consumability. The discussion will culminate with examples of various IBM Software Group solutions you can use to get ahead of the Web 2.0 adoption curve. FREE! Go There Now!

NEW! Addressing software-as-a-service challenges using Tivoli security and WebSphere solutions Building a software-as-a-service solution requires addressing a few key technical challenges. In this webcast, we'll focus on the role of IBM Tivoli Directory Server and WebSphere Portlet Factory in creating a Software as a Service solution. We will demonstrate how to use Tivoli Directory Server to prevent the user population of one tenant from accessing the virtual portal and portlet components of another tenant. We will also use the dynamic profile capability of WebSphere Portlet Factory to create multiple highly customized applications from one code base. FREE! Go There Now!

NEW! Cook up Web sites fast with CakePHP, Part 4: Use CakePHP's Session and Request Handler components CakePHP is a stable production-ready, rapid-development aid for building Web sites in PHP. This "Cook up Web sites fast with CakePHP" series shows you how to build an online product catalog using CakePHP. FREE! Go There Now!

NEW! Rational Modeling Extension for Microsoft.Net Rational Modeling Extension for Microsoft .NET enhances usability for code generation supporting a more intelligent refactoring. The latest enhancements enable organizations with Java and .NET systems and software development maintain architectural integrity across heterogeneous platforms. FREE! Go There Now!

NEW! Rational Talks to You: Scott Ambler on being agile in a global development environment Join this Rational Talks to You teleconference on December 6 at 1:00 pm ET to participate in an agile application development discussion and get your questions answered on using IBM Rational Method Composer in a distributed environment.Get your questions answered! FREE! Go There Now!

NEW! Successful Change and Release Management for .NET Join this webcast to discover the key requirements for successful change and release management. Learn how to extend your .NET environment to improve productivity and collaboration, and address core problems afflicting team development. In this webcast, we’ll review typical challenges faced by customers and how to resolve them with the IBM Rational Change and Release Management solution, including Rational ClearCase, Rational ClearQuest and Rational Build Forge. Replay is available for 9 months. FREE! Go There Now!

NEW! Trial download: IBM Lotus Forms V3.0 Get a free trial download of IBM Lotus Forms V3.0 (formerly Workplace Forms), which provides a zero-footprint eForms solution to help you automate and move forms-based business processes off the desktop and onto the Web. With Lotus Forms, you can extend applications beyond the firewall by creating a single electronic form document ready for use in both thick and Web 2.0 thin client format. FREE! Go There Now!

NEW! Understanding Web application security challenges As businesses grow increasingly dependent upon Web applications, these complex entities grow more difficult to secure. Most companies equip their Web sites with firewalls, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and network and host security, but the majority of attacks are on applications themselves – and these technologies cannot prevent them. This paper explains what you can do to help protect your organization, and it discusses an approach for improving your organization’s Web application security. FREE! Go There Now!

NEW! Whitepaper: Achieving consistency between business process models and operational guides Explore how Rational and WebSphere software enable enterprise documentation in SOA environments. Specifically, a new integration between IBM WebSphere® Business Modeler and IBM Rational® Method Composer software can help technical writers more easily keep enterprise operations manuals in sync with changes that are made to business processes, resulting in more accurate and timely documentation that benefits the entire enterprise. FREE! Go There Now!

NEW! Whitepaper: Delivering SOA solutions: service lifecycle management The unprecedented scope of a service-oriented architecture (SOA) initiative brings to the forefront a number of management and governance issues that were sidestepped in the past. The key to a successful SOA implementation is managing and governing activities throughout the entire SOA delivery lifecycle by ensuring that services conform to the needs of all of the business’s stakeholders. Learn how service lifecycle management allows the business to ensure that the process by which services are defined, created, tested, deployed, optimized and retired is manageable, repeatable and auditable. FREE! Go There Now!

All FREE IBM® developerWorks Tools!