Flash

Flash is a popular multimedia platform used for adding animation and interactivity to websites.

Depending on your website needs, the website can be built entirely with Flash or it can be used as embedded, stand alone pieces like headers, banner ads, advertisements, video and audio, photo galleries, etc.

If Flash is used effectively, it can enhance your visitors experience on your website. If used ineffectively, it can prevent the accessibility of the content to visitors using screen readers. It can also prevent search engines like Google and Yahoo from indexing the content.

Search engines have been working on ways to index Flash content but, they are still far from being able to index Flash websites like regular sites. It is possible, though, to place text underneath the Flash content as long as that text reflects what is written in the Flash file. This will allow search engines to index the text and screen readers to read the text. Also, where browsers don’t have the Flash plugin enabled, only the text underneath the Flash file will be visible.

There are PROS and CONS to using Flash:

• PROS
  • Animation and interactivity
  • Visually appealing advertisements
  • Continually engage visitors experience
• CONS
  • Search engines cannot read Flash as it can a regular website, unless text is underneath the Flash file
  • Inaccessible to visitors using assistive technologies such as screen readers, unless text is underneath the Flash file