The HTML5 buzz

As best described by Wikipedia, “HTML5 is the next major revision of HTML (HyperText Markup Language), the core mark-up language of the World Wide Web.” Realistically, not every website will make use of HTML5, but for those developers who will, their websites will have better support across modern desktop and mobile browsers.

HTML was initially designed to be a language for semantically describing a scientific document, but its general design and adaptation has enabled it to be used to describe a number of other types of documents. HTML5 is a specification for how the web’s core language, HTML, should be formatted and utilised to deliver text, images, multimedia, Web apps, search forms, everything else you see in your browser, and addresses many issues of the previous versions’ specs. The aim is to reduce the need for proprietary plug-in-based rich internet application (RIA) technologies such as Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight, Apache Pivot and Sun JavaFX.A foremost difference between HTML5 and HTML4 is error handling. New browser vendors have experienced problems when they enter the market, as they must test malformed documents in various browsers (and as with most new tech, IE is always the biggest problem-child), and reverse-engineer their error handling. If this is not done, then many pages will not display correctly. HTML5 is aimed to codify this error handling, with the result being that browser developers can standardize, and reduce the time and money required to display things consistently.

Another difference – or more appropriately phrased as “another goal” – is for HTML5 to develop the ability of the browser to be an application platform via HTML, CSS and Javascript. Useful new features include: local storage (JS-accessible browser, built in SQL database, for storing information beyond cookies’ capabilities), new input types (for the browser to expose easier user interface), and browser-supported form validation, which will make things simpler for developers, and faster for users. A more in-depth look into all the differences between HTML5 and HTML4 can be found here.

So what are the disadvantages of HTML5?

This would be the lack of acceptance of micro-formats across multiple browsers. HTML5 uses new tags that add new ‘semantic richness’ to a web document, but doesn’t fully utilise micro-formats (class attributes, etc) which results in backwards compatibility being non-existent.

As with most new technology in its integration stage, HTML5 is not supported by a number of browsers. But with that said, different developers have different needs. We found a very useful site which gives you interactive compatibility tables for features in HTML5 and other upcoming Web technologies.

We think HTML5 is a great new technology, and could replace the need for Flash. Realistically speaking, the number of people who browse on mobile devices far exceeds the number of people who browse on desktop PCs. As mobile devices cannot support Flash, one should look at the development of technology in adaptation of those who use the technology. Steve Jobs’ recent attack on Adobe is an indication that industry experts are leaning more towards technology such as HTML5, rather than Flash. “New open standards created in the mobile era, such as HTML5, will win on mobile devices (and PCs too). Perhaps Adobe should focus more on creating great HTML5 tools for the future, and less on criticizing Apple for leaving the past behind.”

Some useful links for HTML5: