When HTML5 – the fifth iteration of the markup language which structures and presents the content of the internet – was released in October 2014 to minimal fanfare, few could have predicted that it would be the death knell of Flash. The primary feature of the new-look HTML5 was to enable individual web browsers to accurately decipher digital content and display it in the best way possible, based on the user’s viewing device.
Its release would bring about the responsive revolution, whereby all websites would have to be designed to offer a ‘short-form’ experience for smartphone and tablet devices, resulting in a better cross-platform user experience. Prior to this ‘revolution’, Flash was typically used to power rich content applications. But the responsivity of HTML5 is just one of many reasons why it has usurped Flash, which we’ll delve into deeper below.
Improved data storage for users
One of the biggest boons for HTML5 is that it allows for much better storage of data, even if you have multiple tabs or windows open. The ability to locally store sensitive personal data within your browser, without the need for third-party plug-ins, also helped to usher in a new wave of web applications that could cache data and remember users’ previous progress in an application such as a browser-based game.
No need for native plug-ins to operate
Adobe Flash, which used to power most interactive media online, required users to install plug-ins to their web browsers for Flash to work. Unfortunately, the plug-in was often temperamental and would randomly crash. Due to this, some of the newest web browsers began to stop support for Flash plug-ins, particularly when HTML5 came onto the scene, which is one of the main reasons why Flash is no more.
Today’s online gaming industry is far more agile as a result. Whether you choose to play hyper-casual mobile games or slots or table games at a casino online, you can be sure of a responsive gaming experience no matter the screen size of your smartphone, tablet, or desktop. With online video slots, in particular, proving that HTML5 is vital when it comes to a convenient gaming experience. Many online casino titles boast graphic-heavy, vibrant games that require advanced online processors to run.
Reduced processing power
Another reason that Flash was happily phased out was its resource-hungry nature. In the earliest smartphones, using Flash within mobile browsers was known to halve battery life. Furthermore, it was also rendered incompatible with Apple’s iOS operating system, meaning that all iPhones, iPads, and Macs would be Flash-free regardless. It was, therefore, an exciting moment for both iOS and Android mobile devices when HTML5 came onto the scene. Its lightweight framework means that it will always require minimal processing power compared with Adobe Flash.
It’s a free, open-source language
HTML has always been an open standard, and HTML5 is no exception. This open-source language has since enabled developers and designers to become extremely innovative. Furthermore, the markup language has increased the SEO-friendly nature of web applications, helping them to be more searchable by consumers and crawlable via the bots of the major search engines like Google and Bing.
Put simply, HTML5 always had greater market potential, with the ability to provide solutions for almost any platform and industry. It’s great to see it being harnessed to generate interactive content that offers more immersive online experiences.
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