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It's HTML5, Not Unicorn Blood

Posted at May 18, 2011 12:48:38 PM by Ronald Busky | Share

Over the past year, employers, clients, friends (and everyone else) have been talking about HTML5 like it's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow: "Wow, I really need some HTML5, it'll make my site like crack!!"

No. No it won't. Do you know why? Because HTML5 is a standard, not the mythical unicorn of the world wide web. Let's go over some of the common misconceptions that many people seem to forget when talking about buzz words like HTML5.

1. HTML5 animates things. As a developer, I would love more than anything to finally be rid of Flash once and for all. Search engines ignore it, it is hard to edit, and is a general pain all around. On the other hand, HTML5 isn't going to solve this problem on its own. All HTML5 does is provide a <canvas> element and an API for use by other languages, such as JavaScript.

2. HTML5 will make my site look better. You'll find that rebuilding a site in HTML5 will look exactly the same. When your developer touts that he's going to build your site in HTML5, don't give him/her the satisfaction of your looks of awe and wonder. You're going to get the same site aside from some new fancy video or JavaScript animation.

3. HTML5 is ready to go, and we need to build it NOW. HTML5 is nowhere near completed. Yes, of course there are bits and pieces that are ready to be utilized, but you also can't forget the fact that a majority of people on the internet these days are stuck in the dark ages when it comes to modern browsers. If you have HTML5 content, chances are a majority of your users won't even get to see it yet.

The list could go on, but these are just a few example of why you shouldn't get your panties in a bunch about HTML5. Don't get me wrong, HTML5 is a great step forward, and I recommend learning and using it in anticipation for the future; but we should also make sure we don't go around blubbering on about the newest buzz word without having a clue what we're talking about. Okay? Great!

Tags: General

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