What does the term "DOM interactive" refer to in web performance?

The term "DOM interactive" refers to the moment when the Document Object Model (DOM) becomes interactive, meaning that the browser has completed parsing the HTML and is prepared for user interactions. At this stage, the initial rendering of the page is visible, and users can start interacting with the content, such as clicking on links or filling out forms, even if other resources like images or scripts continue to load in the background.

This concept is crucial in web performance because it indicates that the essential elements of the page are ready for user interaction, thereby contributing to a positive user experience. Users typically perceive a page as functional once they can start interacting with it, making the timing of this event critical for assessing page load performance.

The other options do not accurately describe "DOM interactive." While the rendering of the page and the complete loading of all components (like CSS and images) are important aspects of web performance, they do not define the moment when the page is first usable for interaction. The server request timing relates to network performance rather than user readiness.