Devirtuoso

There has always been a feud between die hard Flash and HTML developers as to which is better. So why not lay out some pros and cons of each and see which one ends up on top.

HTML

HTML has always been the backbone of the Internet. It’s simple to use and learn, but it also comes with its faults. Here are the pros and cons of HTML

HTML pros

• SEO
  Any thing you type can be crawled by the major search engines. Granted you can do SEO in Flash, but it is no where as easy as HTML.
• Easy to learn and use
  Even the most novice user can use HTML. With all the WYSIWYG editors out there, practically anybody can create a website now-a-days.
• Widgets
  There are a lot of widgets out there that you can just plug into your website with little to no trouble, and gain a load of new features. (Google AdSense, Addthis.com share button, Google maps)
• Easy integration with back end languages
  It is simple to display text from back end languages like PHP or ASP. A simple echo or print method and it’s up on your website.
• CMS Integration
  There are thousands of pre-built CMS out there that cater to HTML. Simple to install and simple to use.
• Good problem solving tools
  With tools like Firebug for FireFox, and with new browsers adding built in features, it is becoming increasingly easier to debug any shotty code.
• Availability
  Anybody that surfs the web can view HTML. This is good for any new devices on the market that want to integrate the web into their device. You can always be sure that they will be able to see your HTML.
• Loading Times
  Due to the lack of complexity on most HTML pages, load times are fairly quick.

HTML cons

• HTML is static
  HTML doesn’t have a lot of flair and smooth transitions. It’s pretty static. With JavaScript improving with leaps and bounds this may not be the case in years to come.
• Fonts
  You have to use system safe fonts. Again this may change with popularity of CSS 3. There are already a couple of JavaScript solutions that fix this, but speed is an issue for larger bodies of text.
• Hard to make look exactly like creative
  If you have a designer that demands the website looks exactly like the creative in every browser, down to the last pixel…good luck. Not an easy task, especially with older browsers. It’s slowly getting better though. The more browsers follow standards, the easier it will get.
• Bugs
  Browsers are buggy. I’m sorry if you’re an IE fan, but older versions of IE are EVIL. Especially in the CSS realm, things don’t work the way they’re suppose to. Again this is getting better with every new browser release.
• Different browsers
  As much as I love Google Chrome, it’s yet another browser you have to make sure your website looks good in. After checking all browsers in different operating systems, this can really take up a chunk of your time. There are some tools to help expedite the process, but it’s still a pain.

Flash

Without a doubt Flash is known for it’s interactivity and flashy effects…hence the name. You can do some seriously involving things but it comes with it’s faults as well. Here is a list of pros and cons for Flash

Flash pros

• Interactivity
  The ability to seriously involve a user is one of Flash’s strengths. With 3d graphics and smooth transitions it can really keep a users attention.
• Vector Artwork
  Up until recently HTML/JavaScript couldn’t display/animate vector artwork. Flash was your only option if you wanted anything either than a graphic and text.
• Animation
  Any sort of animation Flash can handle like a pro. This makes complex transitions, and immersing displays far more feasible than HTML.
• Packaged Up
  With services like YouTube’s player you can have a full video player just by embedding it into your code.
• No reload
  Flash doesn’t need to reload the page after each request. Granted HTML can do this with the help of AJAX but it’s automatic for Flash.
• Built in components
  Flash offers a variety of different components that you can skin and use to your liking. Styling form components in HTML is possible, but more difficult than Flash.
• Immersing experience
  This is why most micro sites are done in Flash. It offers the user an experience not just a page view. It has the ability to get people excited about a product or a service.
• Audio, video, upload
  Media is generally handled better in Flash than HTML. Most players you see on the web are Flash based. Also multiple uploading is a nice feature that Flash offers.
• Pixel Perfect
  You can design the website to look exactly like the creative with little to no trouble because it looks the same in all browsers.
• Fonts
  You have a font on your machine…you can use it.
• Games
  Online games lend themselves to be done in Flash.

Flash cons

• Requires plug-in
  Flash requires the user to download a plug-in to view it. You don’t have the plug-in you don’t see the Flash.
• SEO
  Although SEO can be done in Flash, it’s a laborious task.
• Accessibility
  Flash has added some features to help with screen readers. This still doesn’t compare to HTML though.
• Print Problems
  There are a list of problems when trying to print from Flash.
• Can get confusing
  The overall Flash file can get confusing, especially when you are trying to work off someone’s file. Layers upon layers of code can really mess things up.
• Bad testing tools
  The testing tools within the Flash IDE suck. Plain and simple. So much so, that most people don’t code in Flash, and use other IDEs.
• Loading times
  Generally speaking, Flash files take longer to load. Since there is a lot more interactivity, this affects load times.

Conclusion

Given the pros and cons of each it becomes clear why there is such a debate. It really comes down to what you need done. If you want a Blog like website, you’re going to go with HTML. If you want more of a interactive site, go with Flash. In about 10 years JavaScript and HTML 5 might give Flash a run for its money, until then there is no real winner. Right now it’s best to use the strengths of each and use them together in harmony.

Did I miss some pros and cons? Let us know which you type of website you prefer.