The World Wide Web uses a special programming language that instructs web browsers on how to display the content of a website. This programming language is known as HyperText Markup Language, or HTML. The most recent revision, HTML5, brings much more power to web developers.
This power comes in the form of new syntax constructs and a rich application programmer interface (API). Any web developer should immediately familiarize themselves with the advances made in this revision, as it will lead them to developing better and more secure websites.
Advances in HTML5 Media Capabilities
One of the most important advances made in HTML5 is support for multimedia, which includes audio and video. In previous versions of HTML, web developers had to use specialized 3rd party application programming environments that allowed for multimedia playback. Since the World Wide Web has transitioned from text and graphics based to a multimedia based environment, it makes sense that the HTML standard would move towards incorporating these features. With music and video support, HTML5 has made it easy for web developers to enrich their websites with engaging multimedia exhibits. HTML5 also provides the ability to scale vector graphics, allowing for pages to by dynamically re-sized without losing their layout. These media advances will help user in a modern era of website design, which will enrich the World Wide Web browsing experience for everyone.
API Changes in HTML5
HTML5 has made it easier to incorporate dynamic components into websites thanks to a redesign of the API. HTML is a markup language, which means that it is intended to tell a web browser how to render a specific piece of content. This has an inherent limitation in that pure HTML web sites are not interactive. HTML is capable of accepting information from users and providing feedback, but it does not allow for dynamic interactivity. Therefore, all HTML websites are considered static. Scripting languages like Java bring interactivity to web sites, which is crucial for more demanding applications. HTML5 provides easy integration with JavaScript, which allows web developers to create interactive websites more efficiently.
The API also supports many more advanced features that will be of immense aid to web developers. These include software components that allow for file handling and manipulation, Geolocation support, integrated SQL databases, and web storage. All of these new tools allow web developers to create more advanced web applications that interact with mobile devices, online data storage, and backend servers. A web developer can rely on the built-in features of HTML5 to accomplish what could only previously be done using a complex web technologies.
HTML5 and the Future of Web Development
HTML5 will shape the way web developers design their applications. With a more robust API and richer semantic framework, HTML5 can accomplish more than its predecessors. Instead of relying on complex, interconnected web technologies, a web designer can streamline their site by taking advantage of the new features of HTML5. A streamlined web application will be easier to maintain and extend, making it cheaper and easier for websites to grow and adapt. This will lead to a marked improvement of web design in the coming years.
