Flash Vs JS

[iota]

Hi masters,

May I know your opinion on "Flash Vs JS"?

Which one do you like more? - Eyecatching Flash & Amazing Javascript!!!

Thank you for your opinion.

[JamieR]

Hey Iota,
It depends - flash is better in a way in which you can't disable it as easy as you can JS, however for somethings JS is better because you can embed simple effects such as displaying a time and date into HTML where as you couldn't do this as easily in Flash, if at all. It would be unpratical to carry out certain things in Flash where Javascript could be used to create a effect easier than Flash. There are also some things which are almost impossible in JS, but easily acomplished in Flash.

Jamie.

[chilipie]

How can you compare JS and Flash? They are nothing like each other, apart from the fact that they are often overused. Personally, I hate Flash and JS menus. They are extremely unaccessible, as many computers do not have the Flash plugin, or JS enabled. <ul>s and CSS are the way to go for site navigation - not Flash or JS.

[liorean]

In general, I don't install Flash for my main browser just so that I can avoid Flash ads. Any site that relies on Flash is unprofessional anyway, so I miss very little. I wouldn't say Flash is hard to disable - just don't install it.

JavaScript is an entirely different matter. While Flash is almost always self-contained, JavaScript is much more often abused, so that's almost a requirement to have.




Now, that said, if there's something you can't do on a site without JavaScript enabled, that site is unprofessionally developed. A Flash site can be professionally developed - many online games sites are prime examples of this. As long as there is no reliance on Flash for actual functionality.



However, your perspective is kinda scewered - JavaScript can't in itself do especially much. HTML and CSS, and the DOM, are the things that makes JavaScript useful on a webpage - this is DHTML. JavaScript, in the form of ActionScript, is actually part of Flash.

[JamieR]

ah yes..but my point is that they can still be used to create similar effects in certain circumstances, but they don't have any kind of relationship.

Personally, I think that flash used in moderation...what I mean is the odd banner is ok, but loads of jumping text all over my browser isn't exactly interesting.

[rayd]

Now, that said, if there's something you can't do on a site without JavaScript enabled, that site is unprofessionally developed.

Just curious, is it wrong to expect users have JS turned on? I did a site using DOM to dynamically add rows to the form so user can input more info. Can that be done nicely without JS? IMHO redirect user to a new page/window with the then generated rows via PHP or something would be much more user-unfriendly.

I understand JS has been abused, same with cookies, but I am curious how many % of users actually turn them off? If they do turn them off, is it out of paranoia or genuine concern? Again, not trying to offend anyone but I am curious.

Thanks

[liorean]

Rayd: I expect the number of users that turn JavaScript off to be about equal to the number of users that use non-graphical browsers - it's not noticable unless you run a high security profiled site. However, the number of corporations that doesn't allow JavaScript still pushes the portion of JavaScript disabled browsers up to between two and eight per cent, depending on what survey you're looking at. If you include search engines and other bots (together with all fringe browsers that might hide in this crowd), the number often gain ten to twenty per cent.

Most of the users that turn JavaScript off are victims of corporate policy. Those that do it at home are most likely either concerned about security, or annoyed by all JavaScript abuse, primarily pop ups.

[hemebond]

Javascript and Flash are completely different, but on a normal web-page (not an application) they should both be used to enhance a page, without being a integral part of the basic foundations.

That make sense at all?

[Digihead]

here is why I love Flash:

http://www.digitalkick.com/

I am fairly new to JS, but impressive things can be done with both. I think maybe the issue is, just as a user what the most impressive, or in some cases annoying things can be done with both forms.

[ronaldb66]

That make sense at all?
Very much so!

I too fail to see the added value of a "one or the other" comparison of Flash vs. JavaScript; as indicated earlieron, they are both very different animals.

However, both can be put to good use to enhance a visitor's browsing experience but should not be relied upon for basic functions of a site, since both can be disabled or absent.