code: public String getAttribute(String name, String def) {
  		String value = dom.getAttribute(name);
  		if ((value == null) || (value.length() == 0)) {
  			return def;
  		}
  		
  		return value;
  	}
docs: Get the value specified for a given attribute on this element
  
  @param name The name of the attribute whose value should be retrieved
  @param def The default value to return if the attribute is specified
  @return The value given for the attribute