Flash is a wonderful tool for creating rich web media, however, there are some downsides to the file format to consider.
The majority of websites assume that the user has the Flash plug-in installed in their browser already. Therefore if Flash isn’t installed, the user will not be able to access certain portions of that website. Some websites are completely driven by Flash, so in this scenario the user would not be able to access the site at all.
The majority of websites assume that the user has the Flash plug-in installed in their browser already. Therefore if Flash isn’t installed, the user will not be able to access certain portions of that website. Some websites are completely driven by Flash, so in this scenario the user would not be able to access the site at all.
Well developed sites should either check to see if Flash is installed, and if not allow them to download the Flash plug-in, or alternatively offer a non-flash version of the website. Unfortunately, many websites aren’t well designed and do not sniff for the Flash plug-in, nor do they offer a non-Flash alternative.
Flash also presents a problem for Internet search engines as they are unable to index any Flash content. This is because the Flash file is in a binary format that the search engine is unable to access/decipher. Webmasters can remedy this problem, to a certain extent, by placing alternative plain mark-up code in their webpage’s that will show if no Flash plug-in is detected.
Flash files that haven’t been optimized properly, or are badly constructed, can cause very high CPU load. Hackers have exploited this in the past to hijack a computer and run malicious code.
Flash also presents a problem for Internet search engines as they are unable to index any Flash content. This is because the Flash file is in a binary format that the search engine is unable to access/decipher. Webmasters can remedy this problem, to a certain extent, by placing alternative plain mark-up code in their webpage’s that will show if no Flash plug-in is detected.
Flash files that haven’t been optimized properly, or are badly constructed, can cause very high CPU load. Hackers have exploited this in the past to hijack a computer and run malicious code.