DHTML is a unique combination of different Markup Languages applied with standard compliant web technologies that allows for more interactivity on a webpage. The D is for Dynamic, while regular Html, Javascripts, DOM, Java and CSS are combined to produce what is referred to as Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language. DHTML.

With the ever increasing power of the web and expanding users requirements, web developer are always seeking for new ways and technologies to overcome the limitations of static Html pages. These combined technologies were created as client-side applications to allow your webpages to act and react to the users in real-time without returning or reloading from the web server.

DHTML is not a derivative or sub-set of the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). It is more less just another one of those subjective marketing strategy coined and perpetuated by Netscape and Microsoft. The D is just a letter-phrase added to html in an attempt to describe the incorporation of new technologies ostensibly designed to enhance the interactive capabilities of their versions 4 and later web browsers.

Html and Javascript can be defined as official standard web languages, yet there is no defined standard or official definition for DHTML. Think of Dhtml as a technology. By embracing the original intent you, give recognition to the purpose, advance the usage of the technology and help to complete the mission embarked upon by the developers.

Communicator and Internet Explorer 4 are currently at very different stages in terms of support for DHTML as recommended by WC3. In short, Communicator is considered vastly behind in its support for true DHTML, while IE 4 is more on track. Its important to realize that both browsers do not yet completely support the DHTML technology as outlined by the WC3. Below lists how Dynamic HTML is implemented in the two browsers:

In Communicator:
Dynamic HTML is mainly realized through the <layer></layer> tag. The layer tag can be moved around, hidden or displayed, its content dynamically changed, etc. Netscape 4 relies exclusively on this one tag when it comes to DHTML.

In Internet Explorer 4:
Dynamic HTML is realized through the browser itself (as opposed to any one tag), with the entire browser able to be dynamic. All elements in a document can be dynamically accessed and altered on demand, even after the document has loaded.

What's the difference between JavaScript1.2 and DHTML?
JavaScript 1.2, the latest version of JavaScript (as of NS 4/IE 4) is merely a subset of DHTML that is used to access the DHTML's features. For example, the code document.layers

What is the relationship between CSS and DHTML?
CSS is a styling technology that allows web developers the liberty to apply style and formatting to a document through a centralized location. In Netscape 4, that is all that CSS does, but IE 4 also utilizes CSS (namely, the id attribute of CSS) to allow web developers easy access to various elements in a document applications. The most important criteria of well formedness: