Starting a function by clicking on a button / link in an HTML view - is it possible?

Starting a function by clicking on a button / link in an HTML view - is it possible?

Does anyone know if this can be done?  Suppose in an HTML view I have a link or a button that says 'execute function x', is there a way to get this to run function x when it is clicked without making it into a link to another HTML page with the function call embedded in it?

Thanks,

Chris