Techniques for synchronizing document object model (DOM) references between a host process and an edit process are described. In one or more implementations a page editor application is invoked to edit a mark-up language document. The page editor application may provide an editing user interface that provides access to both a DOM structure view and a “live” rendered view of the mark-up language document (e.g., a design view). In response to edits made to the mark-up language document via the user interface, elements affected by the edits are identified and temporary identifiers are assigned to the affected elements. The temporary identifiers are included when the edits are communicated to update the underlying DOM. The page editor application may employ the temporary identifiers to create new DOM identifiers for elements in relation to the DOM structure view and synchronize the identifiers between the DOM structure view and the rendered view.