The Document Object Model (DOM) is a platform- and language-neutral interface that allows programs and scripts to dynamically access and update the content, structure and style of documents. DOM-compliant products make it easier for developers to mix-and-match best-of-breed components into robust systems and applications.

Until recently, no formal, structured test existed to verify the compliancy of products with the DOM standard. To solve this problem W3C and NIST launched the DOM Conformance Test Suite (DOM TS) initiative.

The DOM TS consist of a series of tests, specified in XML format, which can be used to verify a DOM implementation against the DOM standard. Just like the DOM itself, the test suite is divided into 'levels'. Currently the Level 1 tests are available but work is under way for Level 2 and Level 3. As the DOM TS is an 'open framework' anyone interested can contribute.

The DOM TS's homepage is at: http://www.w3.org/DOM/Test/

To run the DOM TS against a DOM implementation an adapter for the specific implementation is needed. X-Hive has developed such an adapter and X-Hive/DB users can use this adapter to run the tests from the Test Suite and verify the results. Please contact us at info@x-hive.com for more information about the adapter.

When tested against the DOM Conformance Test Suite, X-Hive/DB passed all 290 tests (NOTE: 290 is the number of tests in the DOM TS on March 25, 2002). As far as we know, X-Hive/DB is currently (March 2002) the only product to do so.

X-Hive is looking forward to the Level 2 and Level 3 tests and is currently working on tests for DOM Level 3 - Load & Save which will be donated for inclusion in the DOM TS.