(1) See also flash memory and flash button.
(2) A multimedia authoring and playback system from Adobe. Launched in 1996 by Macromedia, which was acquired by Adobe in 2005, Flash became popular for its animated graphics. Responsible for much of the animations, advertisements and video components found on today's Web sites, the Flash Player is a free client application that works with popular Web browsers. Generated in Macromedia authoring applications, such as Flash MX, Flash Basic and Flash Professional, Flash "movies" are played by the Flash Player within the browser or from within an application that accesses the Player.
Animation is choreographed using one or more sequential timelines in which actions and interactions are defined. Multimedia elements from other applications are imported into the Flash application, which itself has drawing and painting tools for creating artwork.
Vector and Bitmapped Graphics, Sound and Video
Although bitmapped images can be used, Flash animations became very popular and widely used on the Web because they support vector graphics. Vector images are very space efficient compared to a sequence of bitmapped frames, and they scale up with accurate detail no matter how large the window is resized by the user. Flash files can also contain sound and video clips, providing a full multimedia container for animation and movie sequences. In fact, Flash became extremely popular as a video format because it lets authors easily add interactive controls (see Flash video).
Flash Applications
Flash is also used to create rich client applications. As of Version 5, Flash became fully programmable, enabling Flash to be used to create an interactive application that accepts input from the user. ActionScript and MXML are languages used to write Flash programs, and Flex is a Flash application development system (see Flex).
The SWF Format
Flash uses the .FLA file extension for source files and the .SWF extension for the resulting Flash file that is generated and played.
Originally, the SWF extension meant "ShockWave Flash," which had confused people because Shockwave is another Macromedia format created by its Director software. Shockwave files use the .DCR extension. Today, Macromedia/Adobe calls the SWF format the "Small Web Format." See Shockwave and vector graphics.
(2) A multimedia authoring and playback system from Adobe. Launched in 1996 by Macromedia, which was acquired by Adobe in 2005, Flash became popular for its animated graphics. Responsible for much of the animations, advertisements and video components found on today's Web sites, the Flash Player is a free client application that works with popular Web browsers. Generated in Macromedia authoring applications, such as Flash MX, Flash Basic and Flash Professional, Flash "movies" are played by the Flash Player within the browser or from within an application that accesses the Player.
Animation is choreographed using one or more sequential timelines in which actions and interactions are defined. Multimedia elements from other applications are imported into the Flash application, which itself has drawing and painting tools for creating artwork.
Vector and Bitmapped Graphics, Sound and Video
Although bitmapped images can be used, Flash animations became very popular and widely used on the Web because they support vector graphics. Vector images are very space efficient compared to a sequence of bitmapped frames, and they scale up with accurate detail no matter how large the window is resized by the user. Flash files can also contain sound and video clips, providing a full multimedia container for animation and movie sequences. In fact, Flash became extremely popular as a video format because it lets authors easily add interactive controls (see Flash video).
Flash Applications
Flash is also used to create rich client applications. As of Version 5, Flash became fully programmable, enabling Flash to be used to create an interactive application that accepts input from the user. ActionScript and MXML are languages used to write Flash programs, and Flex is a Flash application development system (see Flex).
The SWF Format
Flash uses the .FLA file extension for source files and the .SWF extension for the resulting Flash file that is generated and played.
Originally, the SWF extension meant "ShockWave Flash," which had confused people because Shockwave is another Macromedia format created by its Director software. Shockwave files use the .DCR extension. Today, Macromedia/Adobe calls the SWF format the "Small Web Format." See Shockwave and vector graphics.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- News to know: Google; Web Olympics; Patch Tuesday; iPhone
- Notable headlines: Tom Steinert-Threlkeld: Will the Olympics melt the Internet? Time Warner's Olympic boost, courtesy NBC More worries for Beijing visitors Phil Wainewright: Hello, Google, is anyone in there? Larry Dignan: Google: Our AOL investment is ‘impaired' ...
- Blog posts 2008-08-08
- CNET's Clientside developer blog serving Adobe Flash exploits
- Yesterday, Websense Labs issued an alert regarding a compromised CNET blog, namely the Clientside developer blog which has been embedded with a malicious javascript code attempting to exploit the visitors through a well known vulnerability in Adobe Flash's player. Websense's alert : "Websense Security Labs ThreatSeeker Network has discovered...
- Blog posts 2008-08-07
- epicFlashControl (zip)
- The epicFlashControl is an ASP.NET server control used to easily embed Flash objects within your ASP.NET projects. As a tool in your Visual Studio toolbox, it's as easy as just dragging and dropping the control onto your ASP.NET Web page and going to work. By using the epicFlashControl, embedded Flash...
- Software downloads 2008-08-07
- Moyea PPT4Web Converter - PowerPoint to Flash (exe)
- With Moyea PPT4Web Converter, you can easily convert offline PowerPoint Presentations to flash video in FLV and MP4 format with H.264 encoder. Thus together with the functions of adding background music, setting default time between slides, etc, you can easily upload the converted flash video FLV or MP4 file to...
- Software downloads 2008-08-07
- Fake CNN news items malware campaign spreading rapidly
- A currently active malware campaign taking advantage of a known social engineering tactic, namely, to entice the spammed user into clicking on a site with a fake news item in order to trick them into installing a fake Flash player (flashupdate.exe; get_flash_update.exe and watchmovie.mpg.exe), was massively spammed last night, with...
- Blog posts 2008-08-06
- IBM should spend another $1B to drive consumer adoption of its Symphony OpenOffice-Linux desktop
- IBM should spend another $1B to drive consumer adoption of its Symphony OpenOffice-Linux desktopIbm should spend 1% of its revenueeach years to help , expend and monitor/sponsored open sourceUp to a certain point IBM OS/3 "pay back" linux or bsd flavor since we are into the "if/why not"...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-06
- Cheap and cheerful Vista-capable PC for $260 plus change
- Cheap and cheerful Vista-capable PC for $260 plus changeA sempron could run aeroI got a AMD Sempron for my neice with only 512mb RAM. Windows Vista32 Ultimate, it could run aero. I use a ATI 9600 vid card. I had to get rid of XP, hurts my...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-06
- News to know: LinuxWorld; Cisco; Microsoft; Yahoo
- Notable headlines: Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft sending mixed messages about Windows futures with 'Fiji'? Sam Diaz: LinuxWorld keynotes: Now is the time to invest. Larry Dignan: IBM, Ubuntu, Novell and Red Hat gang up on Vista A new data center?...
- Blog posts 2008-08-06
- Learning Mobile Author (exe)
- Learning Mobile Author allows you to design, author, test and publish mobile content for delivery to mobile phones and PDAs. Download LMA below from the related files library. Author/Publish Online for mobile phones, cell phones, smart phones, podcasting, wireless devices, desktop machines, or any internet device.Author/Publish Stand Alone for J2ME...
- Software downloads 2008-08-06
- Interactive video: Why the video tag won't cut it
- Interactive video: Why the video tag won't cut itRIAs are the futureCouldn't agree more with thoughts about video experience not been enough. True Web 2.0 experience created using new RIAs Flash or Silveright has ability to output stunning rich media presentations that includes anything from SD and HD...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-05
- What was the cause of the last PC failure you came across?
- What was the cause of the last PC failure you came across?The good old HDWhich is emulating a drum machine is my favorite and only means of failure I've ever encountered..Nearly all hardware failures...I come across could have been prevented by a quality UPS. I venture to say most failures...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-05
- Should colleges really teach hacking?
- Should colleges really teach hacking?Bartending SchoolIn the mid-70's I took one of those vocational courses you see advertised on late-night TV: "Learn to be a Bartender in One Week". Although I never used it (I went at night, which takes 2 weeks and over the weekend I got my...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-05
- Malware arrives - proof that Twitter is nearing mainstream?
- Malware arrives - proof that Twitter is nearing mainstream?Ok, i see the reason for this, but i wouldnt really call it new.. news.Every communications system put out by anyone has been treated this way. It should be prepared for during the development cycle.This happens and every company reacts.. its...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-05
- Why x86 is perfectly fine for now
- Why x86 is perfectly fine for nowAgreed - But demand drives progressEverything you say is true, but the more people who say I want 64bit and I want it now, the more progress you will see in 64bit apps and drivers. If 64bit demand is low, companies will turn...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-05
- How a lack of insurance kills
- How a lack of insurance killsNot everyone can get insuranceAnd not everyone can afford it when they can be accepted.The insurance companies focus on excluding people that might have an existing condition cuts out a large group of people. My wife is a good example - she had breast...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-05
- Adobe: Beware of fake Flash downloads
- Adobe: Beware of fake Flash downloadsJudicious editing"First off, do not download Flash Player from a site other than adobe.com"Close, but let's try this instead:"First off, do not download Flash Player."Ah, much better.RE: Adobe: Beware of fake Flash downloadsThose fake malware infested downloads have been in various newsgroups for a while.They...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-05
- Adobe: Beware of fake Flash downloads
- Amidst confirmed reports that malicious hackers are starting to use fake Flash Player downloads as social engineering lures for malware, Adobe has issued a call-to-arms for users to validate installers before downloading software updates. The company's notice comes on the heels of malware attacks on Facebook, MySpace...
- Blog posts 2008-08-05
- Free Flash Video Converter (exe)
- Free Flash Video Converter is the program for converting flash files (*.flv file extension) to more commonly used AVI, 3GP, WMV, MOV, PSP formats. This handy programming tool set is intended for common use. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.
- Software downloads 2008-08-05
- Motorola Adventure V750 (Verizon Wireless)
- Despite the naysayers who have predicted the company's demise, Motorola's recent cell phone releases have won high marks. Its inventive Rokr E8 stands as one of the better music phones on the market, its Q9c is a quality smartphone, and its Z9 and W755 are reliable handsets with solid call...
- Product reviews 2008-08-04
- How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Windows Vista
- How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Windows VistaKubuntu on main desktop ...... Windows XP SP2 in the VMware sandbox, same for Vista if someone sends me a copy gratis. I've been burned too many times with malware to even think of going back to Windows as my main...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-04
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Sports and Technology
-
Major League Baseball pitches new app to iPhone users
At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, Jeremy Schoenherr of MLB.com demos At-Bat, a new iPhone app from Major League Baseball.
View the ZDNet video to learn more -
The SF Giants' new hi-tech ballpark
SF Giants CIO Bill Schlough discusses new technology upgrades at AT&T Park and outlines his dual role- managing technology operations at the backend while using hi-tech to improve player performance on the field.
View the ZDNet CIO Vision Series video - From our Sponsors
- Fantasy Football
-
-
3 Great Ways To Play Fantasy Football
Play for free, play to win cash prizes- up to $3500, or customize your own league.
Learn More » -
