DOMContentLoaded (DCL) is an event in web development that signifies when the initial HTML document has been completely loaded and parsed by the browser, without waiting for stylesheets, images, and subframes to finish loading.

This event allows developers to execute scripts after the document structure is ready but before the complete page content has loaded, facilitating faster interactivity for users. Optimizing for DCL can enhance user experience by reducing perceived load times and improving the responsiveness of web pages.