The DOM (Document Object Model) is a programming interface that represents the structure of an HTML or XML document as a tree of objects. Each node in this tree corresponds to a part of the document, such as elements, attributes, or text. In JavaScript, the DOM provides a way to: 1. Access elements: Use methods like document.getElementById() or querySelector() to locate nodes in the tree. 2. Manipulate content: Modify the properties of elements (e.g., innerHTML, style, classList) to dynamically update the page. 3. React to events: Attach event listeners (e.g., addEventListener) to respond to user interactions like clicks, key presses, or form submissions. 4. Create or remove elements: Add new elements (createElement, appendChild) or remove existing ones (removeChild). The DOM provides a bridge between static HTML documents and dynamic, interactive experiences powered by JavaScript. It follows the W3C DOM standard but may have variations in browser implementations, so testing is essential for consistent behavior.