The NodeList is a fundamental collection object that represents a set of nodes in the DOM. It is designed to store nodes in a structured and indexed format, enabling straightforward traversal and manipulation. Typically, NodeList is returned by the
getChildNodes()
method of the AbstractNode class which retrieves all child nodes of the current node.
As a DOM-related abstraction, NodeList interacts with nodes produced from the AbstractNode class. NodeList may accommodate any type of node, including ElementNode, TextNode, CommentNode, and others. This adaptability enables it to serve as a versatile container for DOM elements, acting as a link between individual node representations and the larger document structure.
Core Characteristics
The NodeList is an ordered collection, meaning its nodes maintain the sequence they appear in the document. Each node can be accessed through its numerical index, making it possible to navigate or manipulate elements programmatically. This aligns with the concept of a zero-based index common in many programming paradigms.
Declaration
class NodeList extends AbstractCollection