In Articles, Tips Sep 6, 201017
JQuery (In Comparison To Flash)
JQuery is a framework for JavaScript which was released in 2006. The whole framework was developed by John Resig, an American Resident, Currently working with Mozilla Corporation as a JavaScript Tool Developer. Although there are many other JavaScript frameworks jQuery has been proven best in all the frameworks. The other frameworks like MooTools, Spry, midori, qooxdoo also allow you to manipulate the client side HTML content, but jQuery became very popular among all these because of its flexibility, easy coding standards and ability to deliver robust outcomes. In simple language jQuery makes the tasks done by JavaScripts easy, fast and understanding. One can manipulate css, content, images, HTML attributes and even the server side data by implementation of Ajax with jQuery.
In simple language jQuery makes the tasks done by JavaScripts easy, fast and understanding. One can manipulate css, content, images, HTML attributes and even the server side data by implementation of Ajax with jQuery.
Before jQuery, whenever it comes to animation or sliding, the only thing came into everyone’s mind was Flash. But after jQuery, one is totally ignoring using flash wherever possible. The main reason behind this is not that jQuery is the best over flash, but the implementation of jQuery over flash is better, easy and quick. Whenever one needs to place any flash content in their website, the client browser must be supportive to show the content of the flash. i.e. A Flash player is always needed. Now, as the flash player is needed, what would happen is that the control for that content is given to the flash player by the browser and hence the third party comes into existence costing the speed of the website. So if the browser is not fully able to load the content of a web page by its own, and requires some other application to show some part of the page, it will definitely take more time to load the page. And what about the users who do not have flash player in their browser at all? They will first need to download it as an add-on and then only they will be able to serf the page fully, which definitely lessens the interest of the visitor.
Where as in jQuery every kind of animations are possible as the Flash gives and need not the third party application to load or run a code and content. It is because most of the browsers introduced till date in this world which supports JavaScript, also supports jQuery, remember – jQuery is the framework for JavaScript. Look, how easy it is! One more benefit of jQuery over Flash is that any naïve developer or programmer can easily handle it with little sweat, but Flash is not any Tom-Dick-&-Harry’s cup of tea. Hence, the ultimate benefit of jQuery is less men power, as the developer himself can create the animation and scripting. To use jQuery is also very simple, one just need to add only a single file called jquery.js (jQuery Library) and little code in the HTML page where the magic is to be done. jQuery provides slider, menu bar, image rotation, image fading, text animation, interaction between client side and server side data, and whatever you can think of.
That’s the reason you would see the jQuery more and flash less in the recent websites. Flash is totally becoming or I can say became obsolete from the world of Web. Now days one would prefer flash only if they have a special requirement of the flash action scripts. Other than this don’t expect the anymore use of the Flash in the websites now.
Few advantages of jQuery over flash are:
1) jQuery is compatible with every browser.
2) jQuery is also compatible with iPhone, iPad, cell phones etc. which Flash is not.
3) jQuery is very less in size and a single jQuery can create as many animations, sliding and other effects. But in the case of Flash you will need individual flash files for every animations and sliding.
4) jQuery is a freeware where as if one want to develop something in Flash one would need to purchase a Flash Development Suite.
5) Flash files are always large in size. On the other hand jQuery file is less than 60kb in size.
6) Flash always need the upmost skill to create even a single simple stuff, but in jQuery any one little familiar with HTML and JavaScript can easily create anything.
These are very few, but the list is very long. There are only two disadvantages of jQuery over Flash, which are:
1) jQuery does not give high 3D effects and,
2) JavaScript can be disabled from the browser which will disable jQuery too.
Few examples of the jQuery artwork like flash are given below:
1) http://webdesignledger.com/tutorials/13-excellent-jquery-animation-techniques
2) http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/web-development/jquery-animation-tutorials/
3) http://www.queness.com/post/1942/10-stunning-examples-of-jquery-animations
17 Comments
Sep 6, 2010
When was jQuery “proven best” as a Javascript framework? Not every mobile browser has Javascript, and not all users browse with Javascript enabled, so it’s as ‘compatible’ as Flash in that sense.
“6) Flash always need the upmost skill to create even a single simple stuff, but it jQuery any one little familiar with HTML and JavaScript can easily create anything.”
So, you need a specific skill-set to use Flash, but you need be familar with HTML, CSS *and* Javascript to use jQuery? Not to mention, if you only have a basic knowledge of the above, you will only be able to create something very basic in jQuery.
I’m sorry, but I’m very much an advocate of jQuery over Flash, but this article is poorly written and I’m not convinced there was any research at all.
Sep 6, 2010
By the way, my HTC Desire supports Flash natively, everything is working just fine and all animations are as fluent as on my Eee PC (even complex ones and videos). Flash WOULD also be compatible with the iPhone etc. if there were no anti-Flash-campaign startet by Apple lately.
And finally: Flash is also compatible with every browser, even VERY old ones which sometimes still have to be used in enterprises that have applications which were programmed to run on a specific browser. Flash can be used to easily implement new front ends for newer applications in these companies that can run just everywhere.
Sep 6, 2010
Flash is not obsolete – it may be when HTML5 (including video, audio, canvas, svg, javascript and it’s various new APIs) begins to be a fully usuable solution – but for that day to come we are relying primarily on IE9+ being as least as good as the other browsers – an even then we’ll need to wait a while for people to upgrade – this in the IE world could easily take 10 years! I shit you not. Flash is here now, it’s suppoorted everywhere (except arrogant Apple, tho they do have a point about too much of what is made in Flash being shit – but take a look as people’s JS too, the more it’s used for dynamic stuff the more there is an increase in poorly developed crap – the future of HTML5 will have as much shit as Flash ever did – and it can just as easily crash browsers!)
Stop shitting on Flash with irrelevant nonsense – jQuery is a helper library built on top of javascript – Flash is an entire platform. Retarded articles like this are bad for upcoming developers and the useless monkeys that think they are pros because they read and believe all this crap.
Sep 6, 2010
Sep 6, 2010
Sep 6, 2010
Awesome article and comparison. Keep up the great work.
Sep 6, 2010
Sep 6, 2010
JQuery :
1 – launch Coda (or any modern IDE)
2 – open the script
3 – do the change
4 – save
Flash :
1 – Find the .FLA (F***ck where i’ve put it !! Oh yes, I made an archive of it on my dd…)
2 – clic on it, waiting for Flash start
(here JQuery finish)
3 – Find the right sprite, movieClip, open the script panel
5 – do the change
6 – compile the swf
7 – Launch FTP app
8 – find the swf in the directory then upload the swf
= JQuery win.
Sep 6, 2010
As of me, i’d rather use jquery than Flash. Because Flash has always been difficult to me to understand and master, and because personnally, i’m not coding for obsolete people who still FEAR javascript
). Besides, i love the fact that jquery is not as ‘powerful’ as flash’s supposed to be: i wouldn’t focus on things that really matters and would just play around all the day (and night) with a wow-so-cool-new-effect-i-can-do-with-flash-i-couldn’t-before.
I hope there are some serious readers here who just understand that each tool is appropriate for each task (hope it makes sense, my english is not as fluid as i’d like it to be).
Sep 7, 2010
Sep 7, 2010
Sep 7, 2010
Sep 8, 2010
Informative post – thanks.
Sep 8, 2010
Yes, jQuery is fantastic, and it would behoove many Flash developers to create some of their simpler animations in jQuery, but it makes no sense to compare the two, especially to say that one will replace the other. That’s like saying that cell phone cameras are going to replace high end digital SLRs because they’re more convenient.
Each technology has its place, and any comparison between the two should only address which technology should be used for which solution.
Sep 20, 2010
In the past couple years I’ve used nothing but jQuery to move elements on websites.
If a site was 100% flash, fullscreen then you can really do some sweet stuff.
Nov 4, 2010
I personally don’t think that flash will become obsolete and it will be supported on iPhones/ iPads at some stage in the not too far future.
Great post though, its really kicked off…
Aug 1, 2011
I started with JS and saw that it was a pain (cross-browser compatibility … that’s not programming).
I then used a lot of flash (flex mxml) for web applications, saw how little documented it was but still learned it anyway.
And today, I want to try some jQuery for another client… and I realize how much of a nonsense it is to compare jQuery and Flash.
Compare the sites listed as “most beautiful” in Flash or jQuery and it is clear that jQuery is still far behind.
Find me a real good decent editable jQuery datagrid … also get it listed as first on every search page, then come back to me and I’ll tell you you can do this again for every single basic functionality there is in Flex.
The comparison is forever pointless, Flex is close to real programming, the results are 100% machine-independent and the framework is quite complete.
On the other hand, jQuery is and will remain lighter (until it has the same functionality, at which point it might be interesting to compare), and much better suited for basic html menus and other light and simple features.
And yeah, 100% flash full screen is quite decent indeed .. few quick examples that would be a nightmare to create in jQuery compared to the ease (for a somewhat well experienced flex programmer) of making them with flex(flash).
http://www.wechoosethemoon.org/#
http://www.2advanced.com/#/home
and so much more
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