DOM is one of the unique functions that made JavaScript what it is today: a great RIA language, becoming the core of Ajax. Understanding Ajax is virtually impossible when you do not have faint information about DOM. DOM which stands for Document Object Model, makes it possible for JavaScript to read HTML and transmit them to a webpage just like a JavaScript should be. With the use of DOM, developers should find it easy to create HTML files and get JavaScript to load them as an RIA. Of course not only HTML could be used with DOM, other functions could also be integrated which makes DOM cater an unlimited power and functionality.
On the other hand, DOM could be very tricky and instead of helping the developers build lightweight functions of Ajax, it would even cripple it. Although DOM could be easily built, without any precaution it would eat up RAM of your client’s PC. DOM will package the HTML and other functions into an object and that means everything will be implemented at one time. Without proper coding, the browser could stop since RAM could not handle everything coming together. Imagine developing an Ajax based application with an HTML so even the dial-up users could easily access your website. If you package the HTML with DOM without precaution, you will end up with absolutely nothing.
Here are some things you need to remember about DOM. First of all, it is easy as it looks but the cost that you have to pay is on the server side. The practical thing you should do is to build the DOM within the server. Coding is very easy but implanting them from the server is the tricky part. However when you are able to do this, you might be able to bypass the problem of coding DOM properly.
The best practice of DOM is not about bypassing the problem. Of course you have to face the fact that developing a program is not about outsmarting the problem but actually coding the function correctly.
We all know DOM is all about the code getElementById. This generic function basically answers all the problems you have in getting the correct HTML function or object. Isolate the elements so that you can identify them one by one. Usually getElementById needs longer coding and could be confusing for your server and will run slower in the client side. But if you isolate the elements, each of them could be directly extracted by DOM enabling the browser access the information faster compared to processing a longer string of commands.
Another simplification that you could do to your function is to build them in a modular function. It is basically similar to building specific command but modular is more about laying out the objects properly. Break up the tagName and className so that each element in the object could be identified faster and easier.
By simplifying your DOM you should be able to get the most out of this function. HTML is a very good addition to JavaScript especially when delivering simple yet useful applications.
