The World Wide Web Consortium Issues DOM Level 1 as a W3C Recommendation
Interoperability for Dynamic Web Pages and XML Applications
http://www.w3.org/ -- 1 October, 1998 -- Leading the Web to its full potential, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) today released the Document Object Model Level 1 specification as a W3C Recommendation. The specification reflects cross-industry agreement on a standard API (Applications Programming Interface) for manipulating documents and data through a programming language (such as Java or ECMAScript). A W3C Recommendation indicates that a specification is stable, contributes to Web interoperability, and has been reviewed by the W3C Membership, who favor its adoption by the industry.
Created and developed by the W3C Document Object Model (DOM) Working Group, this specification defines the foundation of a platform- and language-neutral interface to access and update dynamically a document's content, structure, and style. The DOM Level 1 provides a standard set of objects for representing HTML and XML documents and data, a standard model of how these objects may be combined, and a standard interface for accessing and manipulating them. "The DOM Level 1 Recommendation not only provides Web authors with the interoperability they need, it also unifies how HTML and XML tools for documents and data will be extended," says Lauren Wood (SoftQuad, Inc.), Chair of the W3C DOM Working Group.
W3C has already began to discuss future levels of the Document Object Model. These levels will provide additional functionality, such as the ability to access and manipulate the style of a document. Arnaud Le Hors, W3C's DOM Activity Lead explains, "The DOM Level 1 Recommendation is a major milestone for this work, and we look forward to extending the functionality based on this foundation."
Key industry players brought their expertise to the W3C DOM Working Group: ArborText, IBM, iMall, INSO, JavaSoft, Microsoft, Netscape, Novell, Object Management Group, SoftQuad, Inc., Sun, Texcel.
Interoperable Dynamic Web Pages
W3C's HTML 4.0 provides authors a standard way to embed scripts in a document, but does not specify how those scripts can manipulate the document's content, structure, and style. Several vendors already offer powerful mechanisms for doing so, but these mechanisms do not always work with different software packages. The DOM defines a standard API that allows authors to write programs that work without changes across tools and browsers from different vendors.
Enables Interoperable Software for XML Tag-Sets
DOM was not designed for HTML alone. XML's inherent extensibility makes the DOM even more valuable to XML designers. The standard DOM interface enables them to write software (similar to plug-ins) for processing customized tag-sets in a language- and platform-independent way. A standard API will make it easier to develop modules that can be re-used in different applications.
Further information on DOM can be found at http://www.w3.org/DOM/
About the World Wide Web Consortium [W3C]
The W3C was created to lead the Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability. It is an international industry consortium jointly run by the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science (MIT LCS) in the USA, the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control (INRIA) in France and Keio University in Japan. Services provided by the Consortium include: a repository of information about the World Wide Web for developers and users, reference code implementations to embody and promote standards, and various prototype and sample applications to demonstrate use of new technology. To date, 280 organizations are Members of the Consortium.
For more information about the World Wide Web Consortium, see http://www.w3.org/
- Contact
- Josef Dietl, <jdietl@w3.org>, +33 4.92.38.79.72
- America --
- Ian Jacobs, <jacobs@w3.org>, +1.212.684.1814
- Europe --
- Ned Mitchell, <ned@ala.com>, +33 1 43 22 79 56
Andrew Lloyd, <allo@ala.com>, +44 127 367 5100 - Asia --
- Yumiko Matsubara, <matsubara@w3.org>, +81.466.49.1170
The World Wide Web Consortium Issues DOM Level 1 as a W3C Recommendation
ArborText · IBM · iMall · Inso · Microsoft · NCI · Netscape · The Object Management Group · Paradigm
"ArborText is committed to supporting the DOM in the next generation API for our XML products. Because the DOM enables interoperability among diverse software applications, it will serve as a vital component of powerful, scalable systems for creating, managing and delivering critical information."
-- Paul Grosso, VP of Research, ArborText, W3C Advisory Committee Representative
"IBM is delighted to see the Document Object Model become an official W3C Recommendation. This interface should allow programmers to exploit the growing range of component based solutions and lead to even more powerful web applications. DOM is a powerful tool for adding new value to the vast collection of data that companies have and will be found at the heart of most successful e-business solutions."
-- Robert LaBlanc, vice-president, Software Strategy, IBM
"The DOM will open a conduit for all structured business data using XML between servers and users' desktops, just as browsers opened the conduit for hypertext using HTML. This is why iMall has actively participated in the creation of this significant new Internet Technology. iMall's industry-leading E-Commerce offerings will gain great advantages from iMall's aggressively-scheduled deployment of DOM-based technologies."
-- Ray Whitmer, Senior developer, iMall
"The Document Object Model (DOM) plays a significant role in the W3C's mission to enable interoperability, independent of geographic, application, and functional boundaries. The DOM API will simplify traversal across and enable direct access to the ever-growing body of richly structured content on the Web. As such, Inso is committed to demonstrating the same leadership and innovation with the DOM as we have with XML."
-- Sebastian Holst, Vice President Product Management, Inso Corporation
"The DOM is a great first step towards providing developers and web authors with a common programming model for web pages and applications. A standard for web development is important to our customers and, consequently, we have led the industry in integrating internet standards such as the DOM into Microsoft's internet technologies. We are proud to have been an active contributor to the DOM standards process and will continue our involvement as the DOM evolves."
-- David Cole, Vice President, Web Client and Consumer Experience Division, Microsoft Corporation
"NCI supports the adoption of DOM 1, a milestone towards creating a global open interactive content framework. DOM 1 will aid NCI in accomplishing one of its core missions: creating an open enhanced TV platform. NCI customers and end users will benefit by enjoying a richer media environment."
-- Mark Vickers, Director of Technology, Network Computer Inc., W3C Advisory Committee Representative
"As an active member of the DOM working group, Netscape is very pleased by the release of the Document Object Model Level 1 specification as a W3C Recommendation, and will implement this specification in a future version of Netscape Navigator. Together with other standards like HTML, CSS, XML, and Netscape's scripting technology, JavaScript, the DOM will enable richer, more exciting user experiences on the Web and on Netscape Netcenter."
-- Jim Hamerly, VP Client Products, Netscape Communications Corporation
"The OMG applauds its partner consortium, the W3C, for completion of this important Web standard, and especially for the choice of OMG's technology-neutral CORBA IDL language for its specification. We see this as another clear move toward the ongoing merger of Web and distributed object technologies."
-- Dr. Richard Soley, Chairman and CEO, The Object Management Group
Exchange of documents across multiple hardware and software platforms remains a challenge for enterprises. Broad adoption of the W3C DOM standard is an important step toward information distribution and sharing without vendor-imposed boundaries. Paradigm Development Corp. has incorporated the W3C DOM at the core of its ParaVista for MS Office Viewers. By combining the universal applicability of W3C DOM and the portability of 100% Pure Java, ParaVista users with UNIX and NC desktops can now view MS Office files with unmatched fidelity and cross-platform consistency.
-- Dr. Philip Mansfield, Research Department Head, Paradigm Development Corporation