A simple explanation of HTML5 and an overview what’s new in HTML5.

HTML5 is the latest standard of Hypertext Markup Language, the code that describes the structure and presentation of web pages.

It’s made up of three codes: HTML, which keeps the structure; CSS, which affects the presentation; and JavaScript, which creates interactive effects within web browsers.

Simplified: HTML is a set of rules that tell web browsers how to interpret code to display web pages. HTML5, the 5th version of this set, improves and upgrades website capabilities, and helps developers make web content, such as websites and web applications, more interactive and dynamic.

New HTML5 APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)

HTML Geolocation

This API is used to find out the location of a user. Considering that this can compromise privacy, the specific location will only be available if the user approves it. The geolocation is useful, as it provides handy information regarding a specific location, or practical route information. Many applications today are geolocation based.

HTML Drag and Drop

This API enables you to “catch” an element and drag it to a different location. HTML Drag and Drop makes it possible for applications to drag items and drop them in different browsers. Unlike earlier versions of HTML, in HTML5 any element is draggable!

HTML Local Storage

Thanks to local storage, applications can store large amounts of data locally within the user’s browser. This mechanism is similar to session cookies, but is more secure and has less impact on website performance. Additionally, data in Local Storage has no expiration time and persists even after the browser is closed, unlike individual browsing sessions.

HTML Application Cache

Web Application Cache supports offline browsing. This enables the use of web applications even when the user has no internet connection. More benefits include fast-loading web resources and reduced server load, since browsers don’t have to download all the data — only the elements that have changed.

HTML Web Workers

A Web Worker is a JavaScript that runs independently in the background on an HTML page. This mechanism prevents the web page from becoming slow or unresponsive until the script is finished.

HTML SSE (Server-Sent Events)

Server updates can be streamed automatically from server to client, without the webpage having to ask for available updates (as was the case in the past). Real-time news and live chat are examples of possible applications of SSE.

These advances in HTML technology have given rise to a new generation of cross-platform web apps that are written entirely in pure HTML5. Because these apps use only HTML5 code, they can run natively within the browser on any device, without additional software or plugins such as Flash, Java, ActiveX, or Silverlight.

With Ericom, you can access even a standard Windows application without installing anything on the client device, using browser based HTML5 access. It’s easy to use and has a simple setup!

Learn More About Ericom Connect

We hope you found this information useful. If you would like to learn more about HTML, visit w3schools.com.