DHTML
DHTML stands for Dynamic Hypertext Markup language i.e., Dynamic HTML.
Dynamic HTML is not a markup or programming language but it is a term that combines the
features of various web development technologies for creating the web pages dynamic and
interactive.
The DHTML application was introduced by Microsoft with the release of the 4th version of
IE (Internet Explorer) in 1997.
Components of Dynamic HTML
DHTML consists of the following four components or languages:
HTML 4.0
CSS
JavaScript
DOM.
HTML 4.0
HTML is a client-side markup language, which is a core component of the DHTML. It
defines the structure of a web page with various defined basic elements or tags.
CSS
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheet, which allows the web users or developers for
controlling the style and layout of the HTML elements on the web pages.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a scripting language which is done on a client-side. The various browser
supports JavaScript technology. DHTML uses the JavaScript technology for
accessing, controlling, and manipulating the HTML elements. The statements in
JavaScript are the commands which tell the browser for performing an action.
DOM
DOM is the document object model. It is a w3c standard, which is a standard interface
of programming for HTML. It is mainly used for defining the objects and properties
of all elements in HTML.
Uses of DHTML
Following are the uses of DHTML (Dynamic HTML):
It is used for designing the animated and interactive web pages that are developed in real-
time.
DHTML helps users by animating the text and images in their documents.
It allows the authors for adding the effects on their pages.
It also allows the page authors for including the drop-down menus or rollover buttons.
This term is also used to create various browser-based action games.
It is also used to add the ticker on various websites, which needs to refresh their content
automatically.
Features of DHTML
Following are the various characteristics or features of DHTML (Dynamic HTML):
Its simplest and main feature is that we can create the web page dynamically.
Dynamic Style is a feature, that allows the users to alter the font, size, color, and content of a
web page.
It provides the facility for using the events, methods, and properties. And, also provides the
feature of code reusability.
It also provides the feature in browsers for data binding.
Using DHTML, users can easily create dynamic fonts for their web sites or web pages.
With the help of DHTML, users can easily change the tags and their properties.
The web page functionality is enhanced because the DHTML uses low-bandwidth effect.
Difference between HTML and DHTML
Following table describes the differences between HTML and DHTML:
HTML (Hypertext Markup language) DHTML (Dynamic Hypertext Markup language)
1. DHTML is not a language, but it is a set of
1. HTML is simply a markup language.
technologies of web development.
2. It is used for developing and creating web 2. It is used for creating and designing the animated
pages. and interactive web sites or pages.
3. This markup language creates static web
3. This concept creates dynamic web pages.
pages.
4. It does not contain any server-side scripting
4. It may contain the code of server-side scripting.
code.
5. The files of HTML are stored with the .html 5. The files of DHTML are stored with the .dhtm
or .htm extension in a system. extension in a system.
6. A simple page which is created by a user 6. A page which is created by a user using the
without using the scripts or styles called as an HTML, CSS, DOM, and JavaScript technologies
HTML page. called a DHTML page.
7. This markup language does not need 7. This concept needs database connectivity because
database connectivity. it interacts with users.