Flash-based sites have been a craze since the past few years, and as Macromedia compiles more and more fantastic functions into Flash, we can only predict there will be more and more flash websites around the Internet. However, Flash based websites have been disputed to be bloated and unnecessary. Where exactly do we draw the line? Here's a easy breakdown.
The great:
Interactivity
Flash's Actionscript opens up a vast field of possibilities. Programmers and designers have utilized Flash to produce interactive features ranging from very lively feedback forms to attractive Flash-based games. This whole new level of interactivity will usually leave visitors coming back for more.
A standardized site
With Flash, you do not have to worry about cross-browser compatibility. No more woes over how a certain css code displays differently in Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera. When you position your site elements in Flash, they'll usually appear as they're as long as the user has Flash Player installed.
Better expression through animation
In Flash, one can make use of its animating functions to convey a message in a much more efficient and efficient way. Flash is a lightweight choice for animation because it's vector based (and therefore smaller file sizes) as opposed to real "movie files" that are raster primarily based and therefore much larger in size.
The poor and the ugly:
The Flash player
Individuals have to obtain the Flash participant in advance before they can view Flash movies, so by using Flash your visitor range will decrease considerably simply because not everyone will probably be willing to download the Flash participant just to view your website. You'll also have to put in extra work in redirecting the user to the Flash download page if he or she doesn't have the player installed.
Site optimization
If your content was presented in Flash, most search engines wouldn't have the ability to index your content. Therefore, you will not be able to rank well in search engines and there will probably be less visitors heading to your website.
Loading time
Users need to wait longer than usual to load Flash content compared to normal text and images, and some visitors may just lose their patience and click the Back button. The longer your Flash takes to load, the more you risk losing visitors.
The greatest way to go would be to use Flash only when you absolutely need the interactivity and motion that comes with it. Otherwise, use a mixture of Flash and HTML or use pure text if your site is purely to present easy textual and graphical information.
Author Resource:-
Carol Lee is an expert author specialized in web design and development.
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