DOM and MSXML

The DOM implementation is just one part of the MSXML parser. The following diagram shows the tasks involved in parsing an XML document and presenting the information to an application or script.

For another approach to XML document parsing, the MSXML parser also provides a different application programming interface, Simple API for XML (SAX2).

The DOM approach creates an object tree that is managed by the MSXML parser. This allows developers to take advantage of the logic built into MSXML for managing XML content, rather than having to create their own. Developers who need to build applications for specific purposes may find it more efficient to use SAX2 to read the document and then manage the information in their internal data structures.

For more information about SAX2, see the SAX2 Developer's Guide.