Javascript vs. Flash
Ask any web designer today and they will most likely say that Flash is a relic; the truth is that until the availability of JavaScript libraries such as Jquery and MooTools, developing websites with animation/ interaction was out of reach for most web developers. It originally rose to prominence due to the duration and difficulty of javascript development cycles, cross browser compatibility issues and the inherent requirement of an extensive knowledge of javascript to tackle even the simplest tasks.
The introduction of libraries that support cross browser compatibility are trivialising said development constraints, and in doing so continue to mould the learning curve into a more manageable gradient for web developers today. Using a combination of libraries can give you control over AJAX routines, on-the-fly form validation, search functionality and various content consolidation methods – even some animation; which ultimately covers a large majority of interactive functionality requirements.
| Javascript Pros | Javascript Cons |
|---|---|
| Small file size | Features are far less extensive than flash |
| Large number of libraries to suppress the very high learning curve | 3D features are limited |
| Far more cross browser and mobile compatibility | More demanding features are processor intensive and therefore slow on most browsers |
| Can add animation to elements/tags on your webpage | Users can disable javascript |
These are but a few of the pros and cons to consolidate an understanding of what JavaScript can and can’t offer at the most basic level. There are still however a number of advantages that Flash brings to the table despite most technologies branching out to avoid it…
| Flash Pros | Flash Cons |
|---|---|
| 3D capabilities | Lack of mobile compatibility |
| Consistent appearence on browsers that do support it | Cost of purchasing flash software |
| Networks of free/ commercial tools | Large file size |
| Supports vector art | Requires flash plugin to work |
| Built in UI | Users can disable flash |
| Changes require the file to be recompiled and therefore is more time consuming | |
| Relatively high learning curve |
Javascript libraries happily roam between most formats but are still at home on websites that have more of an interactive design feel vs. strictly informative content, whereas Flash is ultimately still the go-to-guy for video embedding until an iteration of Javascript can rival it. Taking into consideration everything above, it is only fair to say that they are currently two separate entities all together, and conclusively BOTH best… in their respected arenas.
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- HTML5 vs Flash
- Best Flash Resources
- Create an Animated Flash button
- Quicktip 16 – WP Easy Flash Embed
- A Simple HTML5 Template Tutorial
Posted By: Nish
Hi, I'm Nish, A Web Designer for Web Design GM and really hope you find my existing and upcoming articles useful. Please leave comments below and I will try to respond to any questions as soon as possible.
