Developing new software and applications means keeping up with the latest trends in technology both on and off the web. Creative developers learn the main languages for writing these programs, and none is more important than HTML.
HTML stands for a hypertext markup language. It refers to the accepted system of tagging text files on web pages to create color, graphics, hyperlinks, and fonts. Almost 85% of websites with a known markup language use HTML.
In October 2014, a massive update to this standardized system launched called HTML5. Nearly 90% of websites using HTML now use HTML5. Read on to learn the answer to “what is HTML5?” and how it differs from the previous HTML version.
What is HTML5?
Basic HTML acts as the Internet’s primary language. It defines the connections from your document to the parts that make the document interactive. Tags shape the text structure using elements indicated by the “<” and “>” characters.
Further development languages emerged to define other parts of a document since the first introduction of HTML. In the old HTML, these other languages required further software, like browser plugins, to work.
The HTML5 structure integrates all these other coding languages used to build modern websites. The HTML code still provides the basic structure, but now it also includes Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and Javascript. The CSS controls the physical presentation of the document, while Javascript makes things happen on it.
HTML5 combines all the major Internet design languages to make development easier. Developers can even integrate audio and video now with the updated version.
Key Differences Between HTML5 vs HTML
The audio and video capabilities are a huge difference between HTML and HTML5. Canvas, SVG, and other popular virtual vector graphics can also be used with HTML5. In the past, you would need additions like VML, Silverlight, and Flash to use vector graphics.
In the old HTML, only browser caches could use web SQL databases. HTML5 allows all pages to temporarily store data in an application cache through an online SQL database. It also allows Javascript to run in the background of the web browser.
The new HTML5 structure does away with the standard generalized markup language (SGML) as well. This means it has better parsing rules that offer enhanced compatibility. It also gets rid of some deprecated elements like frames, acronyms, font, big, strike, center, and frame.
HTML5 supports inline SVG and MathML not available in previous HTML versions. It also introduces new form control types like email, date and time, range, number, URL, search, and more.
Finally, HTML5 adds many new elements that modern developers will find useful. Examples include summary, command, audio, embed, canvas, mark, nav, source, video, track, date, time, aside, et cetera.
Big Advantages for Developers with HTML5 Features
The makers of HTML5 want developers to enjoy greater flexibility in their design while improving the end-user experience. The main advantages that the new HTML5 features give developers include the following:
Improved Support for Web App Features
HTML5 developers wanted to transform how browsers work by allowing them to act as application platforms. Websites will only continue to increase in complexity. This feature allows developers to take better control over site performance.
Previously, developers needed to work around these complexities with browser extensions and server-side tech. HTML5 integrates all the important elements like Flash and Javascript to provide these functions without the unnecessary extras.
Standardized Error Handling
Most web browsers come with special support elements to understand incorrect HTML code. Before HTML5, developers had no standardized procedure to deal with this. It forced developers to use other browsers to perform the malformed HTML document tests.
HTML5’s standardized error process puts an end to this cumbersome trial and error. The enhanced parsing algorithms offer unbelievable benefits.
All websites contain incorrect code at some point. Handling errors quickly and efficiently makes all the difference.
Enhanced Element Semantics
HTML5 seeks to enhance code insinuation as well. Developers made improvements to the semantic roles of the many elements already found in HTML4. Div elements no longer matter. Header, nav, article, and section replace all these old elements.
Developers conducting mistake-scanning will find the whole process much less complicated now, thanks to the enhanced semantics.
The Addition of Canvas
The most anticipated of the new HTML5 features, the canvas element, greatly impact Adobe Flash. Some developers think that HTML5 will render Adobe Flash obsolete since so many people seem to prefer its structure.
Remember that canvas acts only as the graphics container. You must execute a script to define the graphics.
Personalized Data Attributes
Although HTML4 did allow developers to add custom attributes, it came with many risks. Sometimes the personalized data attribute would completely stop a page from rendering. More often, they caused invalid and incorrect documents.
In HTML5, the “data-*” attribute eliminates these issues. It has several different functions, but the main function is to store any extra information about the various elements. Now, developers can include custom data without needing Ajax calls or server-side lookups.
Better Mobile Functionality
Your mobile site is more important than ever, with nearly 53% of all global Internet traffic originating from mobile devices. Even professional web developers encounter hardships when creating a website’s mobile version. HTML5 makes it much easier to cater to these lower-powered devices like smartphones and tablets.
Major Benefits for End Users
End users also get major benefits from the switch to HTML5. Mobile websites and browsers should crash much less frequently now. End users can also access a company’s full website from their phone to use their services without downloading an application.
Since HTML5 eliminates Adobe Flash, end users enjoy an improved graphic-rich experience. They also can access any audio or video files right on the website without needing to download extra plugins.
Develop Better Websites and Custom Software
Now you know the answer to “what is HTML5?” and why developers like it better than the old HTML. However, using that knowledge to build faster and better applications is an entirely different story.
Businesses looking to create a stunning website or develop customized software need to partner with an experienced technology firm that anticipates their needs. Contact us today for the best made-to-order programs that perfectly fit your goals!
