As the Web has grown, so has the need of developers for tools to add more media, interactivity, integration with databases and other advanced features into their website. The Web began in 1990 as a platform for scientists to easily access research across the Internet. It has grown into a platform for entertainment, social interaction and applications.
HTML, the mark-up language that makes websites possible, has been pushed and pulled far beyond its original scope to support these features.
HTML5 – the latest version of HTML – brings the language up to date to reflect the way the Web is used now and to lay the groundwork for future uses.
Better Multi-Media Experience
Previous versions of HTML required browsers to use plug-ins like Flash or QuickTime to play audio or video content or to add movement and interactivity to a website.
HTML5 allows developers to incorporate multimedia directly into a webpage in a way that doesn’t require the browser to use a plug-in or external application. This means that pages will load faster and media will open quicker. In other words a more enjoyable experience for the user and less stress on the server.
Along with this, HTML5 brings new capabilities like slide shows, lightboxes and other visual enhancements to website that previously required Javascript or ActionX.
More Layout and Typographic Controls
The development of HTML5 ran in parallel with the development of CSS3, the next major upgrade to the language that adds style and formatting to web pages.
CSS2 freed us from complex table structures, spacer gifs and HTML files so weighed down by style information they took ages to load even in the most advanced browsers. CSS3 promises even more control for designers over the look and feel of a web site. New design items like transparencies and rounded corners are a snap with CSS3. The new language offers better control over typefaces, meaning your well thought out typographical scheme won’t degrade to Arial or Times New Roman in most browsers.
Along with new tags and elements in HTML5, CSS3 gives designers control over the look and feel of everything on a web page down to the pixel. For example, the controls of a video player set up under HTML5 can by styled to your liking with CSS3.
Semantics
Using the right HTML tags to identify the parts of your web page has always been the key to good web development and design practices, and the fact that it helps SEO is certainly important. With HTML5 there are a whole host of new tags to better identify the parts of your page so they can be easily parsed by other computers and most importantly by search engines.
One Code, Many Platforms
HTML in its traditional form works fine for browsers on computers but what about smart phones or tablets? The combination of HTML5 and CSS3 ensures that your site will look just as good on your iPad or Droid as it does on your laptop and desktop computers.
What Does This Mean For You?
For starters, your site can be easily brought up to date to take advantage of the HTML5 elements already in use. This can add a great deal of interactivity to your site, offering your customers a better user experience. And of course it can help with SEO.
By incorporating HTML5 into your site you are ensuring it will be ready for the newest browsers and the browsers to come for a long time.
