HTML5 is far from a new development in the technological world we live in, but it remains hugely relevant and crucial for the design and builds of almost everything we see online today. HTML5 has transformed the way we interact and engage with the internet, refining our online experiences and making it as efficient as is humanly possible.
Before the launch of HTML5, basic HTML code found it hard to deliver even the most basic website layouts, regardless of what device you used to view them. HTML5 has changed the game in so many ways, not only helping with the architecture and structure of websites and web applications but also making things happen visually.
What is HTML5?
HTML5 technology consists of three facets that allow web pages and web applications to operate seamlessly, regardless of the viewing device. The HTML code provides the architecture and structure of a web page, the Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) handles the presentation and aesthetics while JavaScript is the heartbeat that executes the web page or application at a practical level. Using HTML5, developers can now design and build anything they want online without the need for resource-heavy plug-ins that can make browser performance sluggish.
Steve Jobs, the now-deceased co-founder of Apple, sounded off on the warning signs for legacy technology that web developers used to rely upon. Mr. Jobs refused to permit the use of Adobe Flash on all forms of iOS devices — iPads, iPhones and iPods — as he believed that HTML5 could perform everything Flash could and more.
The main issue with Adobe Flash has always been that as a third-party plug-in, it became a huge drain of resources on all manner of desktops, laptops and smartphones. In an age where digital devices needed to be nimble and flexible, Jobs felt that Flash had become the antithesis of what the digital world wanted.
In the last five-to-six years, the digital world has also ushered in a “mobile-first” culture. Websites, web applications and any other online software have all been encouraged to design and execute experiences with mobile devices at the forefront.
That’s because mobile-based web browsing overtook desktop-based browsing for the first time. Data from web analytics firm StatCounter found that desktop web traffic shrunk to 48.7 percent in October 2016. Mobile-based web traffic, however, has consistently hovered around the 50 percent mark ever since.
Industries Utilizing HTML5 to its Full Potential
In 2017, the U.K.’s iGaming industry saw mobile become the most influential aspect of online casino gaming. The number of gamers that placed wagers and played casino games using smartphone and tablet devices hit 51 percent, overtaking desktop for the first time.
That’s why the leading iGaming platforms focus firmly on mobile-friendly experiences to their iGamers, utilizing HTML5 to reshape and redesign how iGaming titles play and ensure consistent user experiences, regardless of the device. Furthermore, iGaming operators are able to offer video slot titles with free instant play features, allowing users to spin the reels within their web browser without the need to download native apps or software.
HTML5 has had a seismic impact on the eLearning industry, too. Prior to HTML5, Adobe Flash was the industry standard for those designing eLearning courses, with all forms of digital content designed to play via the Flash browser plug-in.
The arrival of HTML5 has made eLearning content more accessible and attractive to the mobile-first generation of consumers, delivering the same user experience on mobile as a desktop or laptop. With no need for sluggish plug-ins, users can log in to their eLearning courses and carry on with their studies wherever they are. This accessibility and flexibility help to sharpen minds and encourage consumers to engage with further studying.
It’s even influencing the world of light industry. HTML5 has increased in use by industrial manufacturers to create cross-platform applications and software rather than legacy technologies, such as Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and ActiveX.
In an age where feature-rich web pages and applications are fast becoming the norm, HTML5 is the clear and sensible solution for tech-based industries to operate without compromise on resources. High-definition visuals and audio have created more engaging, immersive online experiences than ever before, underpinned by the backbone of HTML5, and it’s clear to see why it will remain at the core of web development in the years ahead.