When the World Wide Web was originally invented, it was unique in its ability to link pages together using hyperlinks. It uses a markup language known as HTML, or HyperText Markup Language. New technologies continue to change the way the web works, including database technologies such as PHP, ASP, JSP, etc. These new technologies give web designers new user-interactive features. With the creation of Macromedia Flash, design was changed even further to offer even more interactivity.
Web designers have no control over certain aspects of their web design, such as the size of the browser window. This has led to two different types of layouts, Fixed Layout and Liquid Layout. Designers using Fixed Layout limit the window size to a fixed with, pixel for pixel. Others using liquid layout create pages that adjust themselves automatically to the browser window size.
Two layouts that have often been competing are CSS layouts and table layouts. Back when Netscape Navigator 4 was dominating the market, it was popular to use a table layout. With the advent of Internet Explorer, web designers leaned toward using CSS, or Cascading Sytle Sheet. Most browsers support CSS now, however not every browser supports it to the same level, which naturally causes issues.
Often designers opt to use Macromedia Flash, a graphics animation program that provides interactive and dynamic pages. They choose Flash because they have complete control over every aspect of their design. Flash also has the benefit of not requiring a page to be refreshed every time a user action happens. Problems with Flash include the fact that many search engines are unable to find Flash pages, which prevents users from easily finding these pages. This has recently changed with newer search engines.
Web design is constantly changing, with the invention of new technologies and easy to use web design programs.
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