DHTML
DHTML Overview
Why Use DHTML?
One question that you may be thinking is, "why the heck would I want to use this DHTML stuff?" Well, since you are taking this course, you are probably already interested in what DHTML can do for you. But, of course, you might need to explain this to someone else at some point. A prospective client perhaps.
One obvious answer to this question is that you, or whoever you are creating a page for, wants more than just a static page with text and a few images.
DHTML may not always be your choice for a given application. There are other ways for dynamic content to be presented. One of these is Flash.
DHTML Versus Flash
The biggest alternative to DHTML is Adobe's Flash technology, which uses it's own proprietary technology to accomplish its dynamic effects. Flash is very versatile, and can be highly interactive. Many things can be accomplished using Flash that can't be accomplished using DHTML.
Flash, however requires the purchase of the Flash program to create Flash content. Flash can also take a long time to learn and is not an easy program to master. In order to create the more advanced Flash presentations, it may be necessary to learn Flash's own proprietary programming language, ActionScript.
(Note: ActionScript is similar in many ways to JavaScript. Once you have learned JavaScript, it would be much easier to learn ActionScript than if you hadn't. The reverse is also true.)
DHTML has other advantages over Flash.
Small File Size
DHTML usually consists only of text. JavaScript is only text, and CSS is only text. While Flash files use vector graphics that can take up much less space than standard Web graphics (JPEG and GIF), complex Flash movies can still take up a lot of space if the designer doesn't take steps to keep the file size down. (Keeping Flash movies small is an skill in itself.)
Only the images or other content involved with the DHTML Web page will contribute significantly to its size.
DHTML compatibility
While a Flash movie will look and act the same on any platform, many people might not have the latest plug-in for Flash. Most people have the Flash plug-in, but not everyone has the latest plug that might be required to see your Flash movie properly.
With DHTML, all the user really needs is a fairly new browser (Usually version 4 and up) to see all your DHTML trickery.
We should also note that there are other technologies besides Flash. such as the W3C endorsed SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), but these have yet to reach the popularity of programs like Flash. In time, these may change the way dynamic content is created, but at present, even SVG still requires a plug-in on most browsers.
HTML5
HTML5 is the latest specification from the W3C. Although it has no dynamic capabilities of its own, it contains some improved technology for better integration with JavaScript. This can allow many "Flash-like" types of multimedia, without Flash. Currently (late 2010), some mobile devices such as phones and tablets made by Apple Computer (iPhone, iPad) don't support Flash. Therefore, there has been a bit of a push to embrace HTML5/DHTML instead of Flash. However, there are still many compatibility issues with HTML5 and browsers that don't support it whatsoever (only the most current browsers support it, and no Internet Explorer version below version 9 support it).
Why Use DHTML? Summary
While technologies like Adobe Flash are very useful for creating dynamic, interactive content, if DHTML can accomplish the same effect, then it will do it very efficiently. DHTML will also take up much less file size to accomplish its effects.
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