Part 3. Interactive graphics, media, and gaming

Interactive media APIs such as Canvas, SVG, Video, and WebGL are making graphics creation, media players, and games available without plugins. You’ve probably used these technologies with YouTube’s HTML5 video player and/or Google Maps WebGL version. Some companies such as Ludei (CocoonJS) and Goo Technologies (Goo Engine) are investing in such tech for game engines. Once you’ve completed this section, you’ll be fully equipped to start rolling your own interactive applications without plugins.

How do HTML5’s interactive media APIs stand up to RIA (Rich Internet Application) plugins such as Flash, Unity, and Silverlight? These systems are much more mature, but they’re limited in mobile distribution by requiring a native app or some form of conversion. You can write a game in HTML5, for example, and it magically becomes accessible in-browser on mobile and desktop. (Please note that this is ideal and not quite how it works yet.) There are many limitations on mobile for HTML5 APIs and you should check caniuse.com for more details. Some people argue that RIAs provide advanced encryption security over web apps and they’re right. On the other hand, demand is rapidly increasing for non-plugin-based solutions.