HTML vs Flash. What kind of website should you choose?

Search Engine Optimization

SEO is the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engine results pages. In short, it makes your website more visible to people searching on Google and other search engines. To do so, it uses techniques that are both on-page and off-page. Optimization, however, is an interdisciplinary practice that reaches into areas such as IT, programming, marketing and promotion. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to combine theory, practice, analyze data, and follow current trends.

How does the website structure affect its positioning?

Website positioning is determined by a variety of factors, but the most important distinction between websites are their structure.

• Site crawlability is one of the most important factors when it comes to website structure.
• One of the essential factors relating to how website structure affects SEO comes back to the URL structure.
• The basics of proper navigation dictate that users should get from one page to another without any difficulties. Pages that are not linked are harder for search engines to crawl.
• Content and keyword research are fundamental parts of SEO and should be an essential part of how you build and structure your website from the get-go.
• If a visitor comes across a poorly built website, they will avoid interacting with it further. If a visitor can’t figure out how to find the information they’re after they will seek it out on a competitor’s website.

What is a hypertext document? Setting up a website

A hypertext document, more commonly known as a web page, is an electronic document containing text, images and hyperlinks that provides the reader with a variety of information. The web pages are typically accessed through the internet or some other computer network such as a local area network.

While the two technologies are different, HTML and Flash have a lot of similarities. They both allow you to put text and images on web pages, they both work in browsers, and they both use code to create a final product. But there are also many differences between them too. Before you set up a page, it’s good to know what you’re going to do.

HTML website

HyperText Markup Language is a programming language designed specifically to present and interact with data on the World Wide Web (WWW). One of its key features is that it enables authors to create content using a combination of plain text, images, lists, links and other items that are seen as text. It also allows authors to format text into headings, paragraphs and lists. HTML has been around since 1990 and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) started publishing the HTML standard in 1995.

Advantages

• HTML websites are cheaper to develop and maintain than Flash websites.
• With HTML, you can create an unlimited number of pages without having to use a plug-in.
• You can access your website from any browser or device that has internet access, including smartphones, tablets and laptops.
• You don’t need expensive software licenses to design or publish your website
• HTML websites are search engine friendly.

Disadvantages

• The complexity of making changes that must repeat on all (or most) pages. It is about editing the menu, changing the phone numbers and addresses in the footer, etc. Therefore, in order for the changes to be displayed everywhere, they must be “manually” entered on each page.
• Creating an HTML page requires the skills or help of a web developer, which generates additional costs.
• No possibility of quick “installation” of various extensions and modules. All extensions must be added manually.
• HTML is not supported by many mobile devices and operating systems.

Flash website

Flash websites are a type of website that can be created with Adobe’s software. It utilizes HTML, CSS and JavaScript to create animation and video as well as to provide interactivity through the use of its scripting language. These types of sites are very popular in the gaming industry, but they’re also used heavily in the advertising world.

Advantages

• Flash websites are a great option if you’re looking to create something that’s more interactive.
• They offer the ability to include videos, animations, and rich graphics which make them an excellent choice for sites with content that needs to be communicated in a visual way.
• In addition, there are many templates available to choose from and the development process is usually much faster than HTML websites.

Disadvantages

• It’s more difficult to access them on mobile devices and tablets without downloading an app or extension because there isn’t a flash player available on those devices.
• If your site includes sensitive information like credit card numbers or passwords, hackers can steal this information because Flash uses outdated encryption technology.
• In addition, Flash files can often take up a lot of space on a server which may cause slow loading times.

The costs of both

Flash can be more expensive than HTML, but it provides a richer experience. With HTML, you don’t need to download anything and it’s easier to maintain. However, if your site has lots of interactive features (games, animations), you’ll probably want to use Flash because HTML can’t provide the same level of interactivity.

The future for both

Flash has been on the decline in recent years, but it still remains a popular option for web designers. HTML, on the other hand, continues to grow in popularity and there are many reasons why an HTML site can be better than a Flash one. The two technologies are not mutually exclusive and can be used together to create a website that offers both animation and interactivity.

Possibly you might want to consider using a CMS (content management system) like WordPress. This would allow you to post your content without knowing how to code. The downside, of course, is that you will not have complete control over your website’s design and features.

Summary

It’s important to make a decision based on your goals, budget and timeline. HTML may be the right choice if you’re looking for an accessible, cost-effective website that will load quickly on any device. If you want dynamic animation or want your site to appear more like a video game, then HTML probably isn’t the right choice. It’s also worth noting that some experts say today’s browsers are powerful enough to handle most of what Flash can do.