HTML5 vs. Flash
There’s a greater need now than ever before for rich web applications. Users really don't like having to jump around so if they land on a webpage, they would expect an embedded video to play on that page itself instead of redirecting them somewhere else. Multimedia software platforms enable developers to provide those seamless experiences.
One can’t talk about multimedia software platforms without mentioning Adobe Flash. Even though it has fallen out of favor now, Flash has had a transformative impact on the industry. It enabled developers to display vector graphics, text, animations, video games, and stream embedded videos on web pages.
The future isn’t Flash, though; it’s being forged by HTML5.
HTML5
As the name suggests, HTML5 is the fifth major version of the HTML markup language. It's used for structuring and presenting content on the web. HTML5 added support for the latest multimedia and other modern features like the ability to play audio and video within web pages as well as using scalable vector graphics.
What is it used for?
HTML5 is used for modification and adjustment of the appearance of web pages. It's also used for providing structure and presenting content on the web. It allows browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox to know how a web page needs to be displayed and where each element is supposed to go.
It's also widely used to add multimedia content to web pages without having to use a separate media player or even Flash. HTML5 has also made it possible to create lightweight web apps that can provide a lot of functionality while being responsive and adapting to different devices like desktops, smartphones, and tablets.
Advantages
- Cleaner code
There’s nothing that developers love more than the opportunity to have cleaner code. With the kind of simplicity that it provides, HTML5 takes this to another level. Web developers that use HTML5 work with much cleaner code. For example, they can remove and replace the div tags with semantic HTML5 elements. - Support for rich media elements
The inherent support that HTML5 has for rich media elements further adds to how easy it makes life for developers. With integrated capability to play audio and video content, developers no longer have to keep up with separate plugin tags. - Offline app cache
This particular feature of HTML5 goes a long way in reducing load on the server. The offline app cache feature loads the page that the user has visited even if they're offline for the time being. The result is that files load much faster and it's possible to provide a better user experience.
Disadvantages
- Video standard support is a mess
HTML5 is great for embedding video players in web pages however, there's no single standard for video support that would add simplicity to the process.
There are different video standards that are all supported by HTML5 with three most widely used standards being Ogg Theory, H.265, and WebM. Different browsers may run into issues displaying the content if they have support for one or the other. - Legacy browsers are not supported
Users with older machines that use legacy browsers will have problems accessing HTML5-based websites and apps. Internet Explorer is a glaring example of an outdated browser that's still in use but lacks the compatibility for HTML5. - Doesn't allow for a robust gaming experience
Since JavaScript is the only scripting language of HTML5, it lacks the features required to enable a robust gaming experience. Developers will be aware that member access, interfaces, custom name spaces, and more all struggle with JavaScript. There are workarounds but they aren't conducive to making HTML5 a first choice language for games.
Performance
HTML5 itself enables developers to create high-performance solutions but there's a lot else that needs to be done in order to maximize performance. For example, hardware acceleration is the preferred method for improving overall render performance. This is done by offloading tasks that would be performed by the CPU to the dedicated graphics processing unit.
Developers can also use JavaScript profilers to get a holistic view of their app's performance on the function level. This is done by measuring the time taken to execute each individual function from beginning to the end.
Relevant changes can then be made to further improve the performance.
Flash
Flash was developed as a response to the growing need for a solution that allowed developers to enable audio and video playback on the web. It quickly became the de facto standard that was used in place of individual and often clunky audio and video plugins.
What’s it used for?
Flash is used for embedded video players in web browsers and for the production of desktop and mobile apps as well as for animations. It can also capture camera, microphone, and keyboard input.
It has since fallen out of favor as HTML5 has grown to be more popular and doesn't quite suffer from the same security vulnerabilities as Flash. Some of the biggest backers of Flash, like YouTube, have now ditched it. Even YouTube now relies on the media rendering capabilities of HTML5. Adobe now favors a transition to HTML5 itself.
Advantages
- Extensive developer community
Since Flash has been around for such a long time, there's a massive community of developers that can be tapped into for help and support.
It's also possible to easily acquire free or low-cost pre-built files that have been created by developers for other developers, allowing them to get their projects off the ground quickly. - Better integration with legacy browsers
For the simple reason that it has been around for long enough, Flash also has better integration with legacy browsers and older devices. It doesn’t run into the same limitations that HTML5 has when it comes to outdated browsers. - Supports enhanced interactivity
Some of the earliest interactive experiences on the web were built using Flash. Since it can capture mouse, keyboard, microphone, and camera input, developers can thus create solutions that enable visitors to have enhanced interactions with content.
Disadvantages
- Interactivity can be distracting
Some developers can tend to go overboard with all of the interactive elements that they can add to their sites with Flash. This takes away from the actual content itself and may also prevent them from creating a better UX. Users may end up with a poor experience as a result. - Issues with indexing content coding
It's possible to run into issues with indexing of the content coding. Search engine positioning suffers neglect within the Flash animation.
To work around this, developers would use JavaScript to add the Flash movie and then find a backup HTML for SEO. It just added a layer of complexity to the project. - Flash is on its way out
Flash isn’t really an option for new projects because the standard itself is now on its way out in favor of HTML5.
Adobe already announced in 2017 that Flash will be declared end-of-life after 2020. It will no longer support, distribute or provide security updates for Flash Player. Flash will not be updated or maintained after December 2020.
Performance
Achieving greater performance with Flash was possible since it used vector graphics combined with program code. The result was that the Flash files would be smaller and streams would use less bandwidth compared to video clips or bitmaps. The Flash Player also had a virtual machine called the ActionScript VM which scripted interactivity at run-time for performance.
Which should you use?
With Flash on its way out, it only makes sense to use HTML5 going forward. The industry has thrown its weight behind HTML5 so any solutions created using the latest iteration of this markup language will be completely future-proof. There’s nothing that threatens the future of HTML5 so it will not suffer the same fate as Flash.
As if that wasn’t a reason enough, HTML5’s benefits far outweigh those of Flash. It allows for solutions to be more responsive, adaptive, and powerful.
The offline app cache is just one example of a highly useful feature that it provides. HTML5 is also easier for developers to work with, allowing them to create more complex software solutions swiftly.
These benefits can only be enjoyed if you work with developers who know what they’re doing.
At Zibtek, our expert software engineers are highly proficient in HTML5 development. We are based in the United States with offices in Salt Lake City, Utah. Zibtek also manages a global talent pool of skilled developers who can be assigned to your projects.
Our developers know HTML5 like the back of their hand, building apps that can be used on any device that has a web browser.
This allows them to function as cross-platform apps, allowing you to put your business and brand across more customers without having to make significant investments in dedicated cross-platform app development.If you’re considering HTML5 for a project or are just curious about how the technology might be of use to your business, reach out to Zibtek today and our team will be happy to sit down with you and figure out a solution that works best.