Web Technology Workshop on From Cookies to DOM-Powering the web behind the Scene

The Department of the School of Sciences at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, organized a technical workshop on 4th December 2025, aimed at strengthening students’ understanding of essential web development concepts. The session focused on two foundational components of client-side web technologies—cookies and the Document Object Model (DOM)—both of which play a critical role in enabling dynamic and user-responsive websites. The workshop was facilitated by Ms. Nilofar Feroz Khan Shikalgar, Assistant Professor (Retainer) at Ajeenkya D. Y. Patil University, Pune, who brought her expertise and experience to deliver a comprehensive and application-oriented session.

The workshop began with an introduction to web cookies, explaining their role as small data files stored in the user’s browser. Ms. Shikalgar detailed how cookies allow websites to remember user preferences, maintain login sessions, and enable personalization across different visits. Students were introduced to various categories of cookies—session cookies, persistent cookies, and secure cookies—and learned how each one behaves based on its scope and duration. The facilitator also emphasized the increasing relevance of privacy regulations and consent mechanisms, helping students understand the ethical responsibilities associated with handling user data.

Following this, the session transitioned into an in-depth explanation of the Document Object Model (DOM). The facilitator described the DOM as the structured tree representation created by the browser from an HTML document, enabling developers to programmatically access, modify, and update webpage elements. Through clear demonstrations, students observed how JavaScript interacts with different parts of the DOM to make web pages dynamic. Practical examples showcased real-time text manipulation, style changes, event handling, and element creation, giving students a concrete understanding of how front-end interactivity is achieved.

One of the key strengths of the workshop was its balanced approach between theory and hands-on learning. Code demonstrations were used extensively, allowing students to watch how cookies are created, retrieved, updated, and deleted using simple JavaScript snippets. Similarly, DOM manipulation examples helped bridge the gap between conceptual learning and practical application. Students were encouraged to think critically about how the DOM affects webpage rendering, usability, and performance, and how efficient coding practices can improve the overall user experience.

In addition to covering the core technical content, the workshop addressed common challenges faced by beginners in web development. Ms. Shikalgar highlighted frequent errors related to improper DOM referencing, cookie misuse, and JavaScript syntax, offering tips on debugging and best practices for writing clean, readable code. Students also gained insights into how these basic mechanisms contribute to broader concepts such as interactive design, responsive behavior, and client-side data management.

Toward the end, a Q&A session enabled participants to clarify their doubts and explore additional topics of interest. Many students expressed that the workshop helped them understand how theoretical concepts taught in the classroom—especially in courses related to web technologies—translate into real-world applications. The practical demonstrations and interactive explanations made the session particularly impactful for students preparing for more advanced development work.

Overall, the workshop was highly successful in meeting its objectives. It provided students with a solid foundation in cookies and DOM operations, strengthened their practical skills, and reinforced the connection between academic learning and industry-relevant web development practices. The Department of the School of Sciences achieved its goal of delivering a meaningful learning experience that will support students in future academic pursuits and technical projects.

The workshop directly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 – Quality Education, particularly the target promoting relevant technical and vocational skills for employment and entrepreneurship. By equipping students with practical web development competencies, the event supported the advancement of digital literacy and technological empowerment—critical in today’s knowledge-driven economy.