What is the root node of an HTML document's DOM?

The root node of an HTML document's DOM is the element. This element serves as the top-level container for the entire HTML structure of a web page. All other elements, including and , are considered descendants of the element. As the root, it establishes the document as an HTML document and provides the necessary context for the browser to interpret and render the subsequent elements.

When a browser parses an HTML document, it creates a tree-like structure known as the Document Object Model (DOM). The element is at the very top of this hierarchy, and it encompasses both the and elements. Within the , metadata about the document is specified, such as title, links to stylesheets, and scripts. The then contains the content that is displayed to the user.

Other elements, like

or , while important parts of the structure and functionality of an HTML document, do not serve as the root node. The element is also pivotal, but it is a child of the element, further illustrating that the element is indeed the root of the DOM structure.