For the last couple of years there has been a lot of hype around the introduction and usage of HTML5 and how it is changing the web development industry for desktop and mobile programmers alike.
Considering that the specification of this technology isn’t quite complete, we thought it would be appropriate to give you a brief overview of some of the more stable elements and how developers have been using them in real world (digital) applications.
To help better organize the structure within your pages and documents, HTML5 introduces the usage of new tags like nav, section and article. Combined with the addition of Resource Description Framework attributes (RDFa), developers are beginning to code more accessible, rich and meaningful content.
This is by far one of the most expansive sections within HTML5 specification. Utilizing the now stable App Cache and Local Storage APIs, programmers and developers can further their reach and enable usage of their applications without needing to be connected.
With the much needed addition of some new audio and visual tags, application developers can now incorporate HTML5 multimedia features without relying on Flash. This has made a significant impact for mobile developers who work with devices like the iPhone and iPad, which aren’t Flash-friendly.
Probably the most popular specification of HTML5, CSS3 is already widely used and supported by most internet browsers. CSS3 gives designers new and more efficient ways to create impact with their designs – compared to CSS2 - by utilizing new selectors and modules to implement lists, text effects and multi-column layouts with ease.
Hopefully HTML5 is on your list of “things to get comfortable with” for 2011! We definitely hope to be using (and showcasing) some of our own HTML5 and CSS3 creations in the near future.