What is Adobe Flash?

Adobe flash is a multimedia software used for viewing and streaming audio, video and other multimedia content. It is used for playing live or recorded audio and videos available on the internet in the computer and mobile devices.

About Adobe Flash 

The first-ever flash was developed for creating interactive websites. After the invention of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Abode Flash has lost its importance. Later on, flash is found to be useful in online multimedia, especially for browser-based animations and games. Animation files created using Adobe has smaller size and therefore, it is a lightweight choice.

Adobe Flash uses vector graphics to generate animations that can be used in video games or embedded in a web site. It is used in steaming of video and audio in social media websites. It is capable of capturing input from mouse, keyboard, mic and so forth.

Softwares Used

The software used in making interactive animations, video games, web applications, desktop applications, and mobile applications is Action Script. Adobe Animate (AA), Adobe Flash builder (AFB), Adobe Director (AD), Flash Develop (FD), and PowerFlasher are developed using IDE implemented along with flash software. Adobe Flash is a complete package which enables development of application with flash For Windows, iOS, Android, Nintendo switch and so forth.

Adobe flash player

The computer software was created for flash content on the Adobe Flash Player platform. In Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google Chrome, Adobe Flash Player is referred to as Shockwave Flash (SWF). Adobe flash player is used for viewing flash content like online streaming of videos or audios, recorded videos or audios and other multimedia contents. Flash player is supported on all mobile devices and can also run as a plug-in in browsers.

Adobe flash player is independent of the browser. There is no issue in supporting various web browsers. Viewers can view flash content with no issues after installing a flash player plugin.

Features

• Vector-based drawing tools- These are smaller in size compared to bitmap images.
• Complex interactions - These are programmed using the ActionScript language.
• Multimedia effects - includes animations, audio, video, slideshows and so forth.

Components of a Flash Interface

• Stage - Work area where the clips, buttons, graphics and other elements are arranged.
• Timeline - Numbers that are displayed at the bottom represents the frames which will appear as the time progresses and it can be used to navigate to a particular frame which requires editing.
• Toolbar - Contains several widgets that be included on the stage by drag and drop action.
• Properties and libraries - Used to display the properties associated with the object displayed on the stage or tool selected on the toolbar.

Tools provided by Adobe

Adobe Flash provides a series of tools that can be used for programming and are sometimes referred to as the official tools or third-party tools. Following are some of the common series of tools that are provided by Adobe.

• Flash Professional - tool used to create basic animations and design.
• Flash Builder - IDE which is used to create Rich-Internet Applications.
• Flex - considered as a Flash Development Framework.
• Flash Player - browser plug-in that runs on the client-side which is used for viewing flash content.
• Adobe integrated Runtime - It is the runtime environment used with the desktop flash applications.
• Apache flex SDK - It is a opensource framework which is used to build internet rich applications.
• CrossBridge - It provides a C/C++ development platform which can be used to develop applications that run on Adobe Flash Player.
• Powerflasher FDT - Used to develop Adobe Flash based content on Eclipse IDE.
• SWFTools - Consists of collection of tools which can be used to work with Adobe Flash files.

Browsers that support Adobe Flash

• Internet Explorer.
• Microsoft Edge.
• Google Chrome.
• Microsoft Firefox.
• Opera.

Steps to enable flash on the browser

1. Go to settings. In the Opera browser, enter opera://settings/content/flash?search=flash.
2. Enable Allow sites to run Flash option.
3. Visit any website that has flash content.
4. If Plug-ins blocked notification pops-up, click in allow button.

Advantages

• Familiar with all the developers.
• Supports interactivity.
• Stable across platforms.
• Integrates with other technologies.

Disadvantages

• Ads produced using Flash displayed on the website is considered annoying by users.
• Security issues.
• Controlled by Adobe and not available as open source.
• Can slow down the webpage loading.

EOL date

Adobe stated in July 2017 that it would discontinue supporting the Flash Player on the date December 31, 2020 that is itself referred to as the EOL Date for flash player on Adobe. Now, to help secure their corresponding computers, Adobe strongly advises that all users remove Flash Player right away. Adobe also strongly advises the ranges of consumers to only use one of the most secure and up-to-date versions of the Flash Player, since the older versions will no longer be supported beyond the defined HARMAN's EOL Date.

Flash games

On the date December 31, 2020, Adobe formally retired Flash Player. With the Flash support expiring, various kinds of websites that sell different kinds of Flash-based content that includes games and animations will be forced to do so as well. The complete termination of their official support threw considerable doubt on our ability to play the slew of Flash games that have carved a place in the online culture and history in their own right. Flashpoint can be used for playing various kinds of flash games. Over a range of 38,000 Flash games and approximately 2,500 Flash animations may be found in the Flashpoint library.

Context and Applications

This topic is important for postgraduate and undergraduate courses, particularly for,

• Bachelors in computer science engineering.
• Associate of science in computer science.

Practice Problems

Question 1: What is SWF?

1. Shockwave flash
2. Software flash
3. Soft wave flash
4. Standard wave flash

Answer: Option 1 is correct.

Explanation: A computer software created for flash content on the platform of adobe flash platform is adobe flash player. In internet explorer, firefox, and google chrome adobe flash player is known as shockwave flash. Adobe flash player is used for viewing online streaming videos or audios, recorded videos or audios, internet applications, and multimedia content. Flash player is supported on mobile devices and can also run as a plug-in browser.

Question 2: Which area is used for viewing individual frames in Adobe Flash?

1. Stage
2. Timeline
3. Toolbar
4. Tool Panel

Answer: Option 2 is correct.

Explanation: Timeline is used for viewing individual frames by clicking on the corresponding frame number which are displayed horizontally at the bottom of the stage.

Question 3: What pure ActionScript application is built of?

1. With flex framework
2. No flex framework
3. Without flex framework
4. None of these

Answer: Option 3 is correct.

Explanation: Pure ActionScript is built without a flex framework but provides flexibility and good performance. Video games built on this platform are pure ActionScript projects. Madcomponents provides UI components and it is open source.

Question 4: How many development methods are there in adobe flash?

1. one
2. two
3. four
4. three

Answer: Option 2 is correct.

Explanation: There are two development methods, and they are flex application and pure Actionscript application. Flex application is a collection of integrated graphical user interfaces and weights 500KB. Pure ActionScript applications are built without a flex framework but it has flexibility and good performance. Video games built on this platform are pure ActionScript projects.

Question 5: What is the language used in adobe flash?

1. Actionscript
2. ActionScript
3. Madscript
4. script

Answer: Option 1 is correct.

Explanation: The language used in making interactive animations, video games, web applications, desktop applications, and mobile applications is action script. For Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii u, and Nintendo switch applications are produced using adobe air with flash software.