A WEB DESIGNERS TAKE ON FLASH VS HTML

What is HTML5? Why should i care? Which is the best option to use when creating a website? These are the questions that clients have been asking or should be asking when there website is being developed. In this short article, I briefly try to explain the difference between HTML5 and Flash to help guide you in the right direction and to better inform you as to what is the best option to take.

What is Flash?

Flash is an established platform that reaches 99% of desktops and laptops browsers with solid performance. It’s been estimated that over 80% of sites visited use Flash. Around 75% of video that is viewed online is created and published using flash. Is there any drawback when using flash? Yes, some mobile browsers , mainly iOS Safari(Apple Iphone, Ipad etc..) do not currently support flash. But one thing to keep in mind about Apple’s lack of support is, sure they have sold over 100 million Iphones, which is alot, but that only accounts for 1% of total browser market.

What is HTML5?

HTML5 is a mixture of several new and existing technologies such as CSS3, Javascript, Canvas. Mixing these together allows for some great browser benefits. HTML5 allows current browsers that do not support Adobe’s Flash plugin such as Apple’s Iphone and Ipad, which run on Safari, have a more engaging browser experience. So whats the downside of HTML5? One of major downside is features and performance. HTML5 might run smooth on a desktop but it will vary on features and performance when viewing it on an Ipad. The real difference is when viewing a browser on an Ipad vs Ipad2. HTML5 is still a work in progress but it’s future looks promising.

Both have there benefits and both have there drawbacks. Which is the best solution for you? That depends on your target audience. Are you wanting your website to leave an engaging experience with all the bells and whistles? Then Flash is the way to go. Do you want your website to be viewable by both desktops and mobile phones(Iphone, Ipad) then HTML5 is a great option.



Posted on : August 9th, 2011