---
title: "GlobalNodeKey"
description: Get access to the underlying DOM node of a component.
---

---

For accessing the underlying DOM node of a component, provide a `GlobalNodeKey` to the component and access the node using `myGlobalNodeKey.currentNode`.

```dart
// 1. Import universal_web
import 'package:universal_web/web.dart';

// 2. Create a GlobalNodeKey with a node type
final GlobalNodeKey<HTMLFormElement> myFormKey = GlobalNodeKey();

// 3. Provide to a html component
return form(key: myFormKey, [ ... ]);

// 4. Access dom node from key
myFormKey.currentNode?.checkValidity();
```

<Info>
The `universal_web` package is a drop-in replacement for the `web` package that adds compatibility for non-web platforms. Therefore its safe to use in components that are both rendered on the server and client.
</Info>