Browser Comparison: W3C Document Object Model Features

Microsoft Corporation

June 23, 1997

The table below lists the features provided by Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape Navigator 4.0, with respect to the requirements outlined in the W3C's Preliminary Requirements for the Document Object Model (http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/DOM/drafts/requirements.html ).

Feature Internet Explorer 4.0 Netscape Navigator 4

General Requirements

Language-independent object model Yes No

Object model can construct and deconstruct the document Yes No

Object model available to both external agents and embedded scripts Yes Yes

Structure Navigation

All known and unknown elements in the document are programmable objects Yes No

All known and unknown tags and attributes in the document are programmable objects Yes No

All implied elements (e.g., HTML, BODY) are programmable objects Yes No

Navigation between any element is possible Yes No

Query for elements and attributes is supported Yes No

Document Manipulation

Add, remove, and change elements in the document Yes No

Add, remove, and change attributes Yes No

Content Manipulation

Determine containing element from any part of the document Yes No

Add, change, or delete any content Yes No

Navigate content Yes No<

Event Model

All elements can generate events on all elements Yes No

Support for interaction events on all elements Yes No(1)

Support for update events on all elements Yes No(1)

Support for change events on all elements Yes No(1)

Mouse and keyboard events on all elements Yes No

Ability to override default actions of any element Yes Limited

Events automatically bubble through the document's hierarchy Yes No

Stylesheet Object Model

CSS object model Yes No(2)

All individual style sheets represented Yes No(3)

Changes to style sheets applied and rendered at any time Yes No(3)

Selectors, rules, and properties of individual global style sheets can be added, removed, and changed -- and then rendered at any time Limited(4) No(3)

Properties of inline style sheets can be added, removed, and changed -- and then rendered at any time Yes No(5)

DTD Manipulation No No

Error Reporting Limited Limited

Document Meta Information and User Agent Environment

Meta information exposed: source location, creation date, cookies, etc. Yes Yes

User Agent brand and version available Yes Yes

Determination of MIME support No Yes

Feature	Internet Explorer 4.0	Netscape Navigator 4
General Requirements
Language-independent object model	Yes	No
Object model can construct and deconstruct the document	Yes	No
Object model available to both external agents and embedded scripts	Yes	Yes
Structure Navigation
All known and unknown elements in the document are programmable objects	Yes	No
All known and unknown tags and attributes in the document are programmable objects	Yes	No
All implied elements (e.g., HTML, BODY) are programmable objects	Yes	No
Navigation between any element is possible	Yes	No
Query for elements and attributes is supported	Yes	No
Document Manipulation
Add, remove, and change elements in the document	Yes	No
Add, remove, and change attributes	Yes	No
Content Manipulation
Determine containing element from any part of the document	Yes	No
Add, change, or delete any content	Yes	No
Navigate content	Yes	No<
Event Model
All elements can generate events on all elements	Yes	No
Support for interaction events on all elements	Yes	No(1)
Support for update events on all elements	Yes	No(1)

Support for change events on all elements	Yes	No(1)

Mouse and keyboard events on all elements	Yes	No

Ability to override default actions of any element	Yes	Limited

Events automatically bubble through the document's hierarchy	Yes	No
Stylesheet Object Model
CSS object model	Yes	No(2)
All individual style sheets represented	Yes	No(3)
Changes to style sheets applied and rendered at any time	Yes	No(3)
Selectors, rules, and properties of individual global style sheets can be added, removed, and changed -- and then rendered at any time	Limited(4)	No(3)
Properties of inline style sheets can be added, removed, and changed -- and then rendered at any time	Yes	No(5)
DTD Manipulation	No	No
Error Reporting	Limited	Limited
Document Meta Information and User Agent Environment
Meta information exposed: source location, creation date, cookies, etc.	Yes	Yes
User Agent brand and version available	Yes	Yes
Determination of MIME support	No	Yes

Notes:

Only on input elements.
Support for CSS, but not for CSS object model.
JASS only.
Add only.
Load time only.