As the war between HTML5 and Flash (which isn't really a war, more of a misunderstanding) hots up and companies like NetFlix, Google and Youtube start incorporating HTML5 elements in to their mainstream sites, we take a step back and answer some of the most common web developer questions about HTML5.
What Is HTML5?
HTML5 is the code that website front ends are designed in. Your browser interprets the HTML and renders it on your screen. HTML5 is a massive leap from HTML4 and XHTML because it offers more interactivity and a richer user experience - infact it takes over many features that could previously only be done with Flash like play videos and audio.
Does HTML5 Work In All Browsers?
No, HTML5 still doesn't have a final specification and agreement on what is and is not included and support for HTML5 is only available in the very latest versions of the various browsers. Even then, each browser supports different elements and handles them in different ways.
If you do choose to use some HTML5 elements in a website then older browsers will simply ignore the new code so you can design the site to graceful degrade depending on the browser being used.
Should I start using HTML5 now?
It depends on the nature of the website you are developing. If it is a traditional corporate website using a regular CMS then HTML5 elements are unnecessary. If you are looking to develop a cutting edge website that gets the attention of your peers then using HTML5 could be a good way to go about it - just don't expect everyone to be able to use your site.
What are the advantages of HTML5 over Flash?
Flash is well known for being a resource hog and according to Steve Jobs is the number one cause of crashes on the Apple computers. The operating system that the iPhone, iPad and iPod use don't support Flash however they do support HTML5 so you can replace all your Flash FLV Players with a HTML5 player and open up your website to a mobile market.
When will HTML5 become mainstream?
Most likely it will take many more years yet, however if you are a web developer then you should start familiarizing yourself with HTML5 elements because more and more people will start using browsers that can handle the new features.
If there is one thing to take away from this article it is that you should be familiarizing yourself with the new HTML5 concepts, experiment with them, use them on your personal sites but take care when using them on client sites as the vast majority of Internet users still can't take advantage of the new features.
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