Flash has a lot of attractive features, but tends to be very heavy with graphics and bad with SEO.

What do you think about making websites with Flash? Is it better just to use something like AJAX, with maybe the header being flash?

Just looking for some opinions..

If you're asking should you build websites entirely with Flash I'd say no. Too many issues like trouble getting indexed, problems with bookmarking specific pages, longer download times, etc.

But there's no reason why you can't or shouldn't use Flash as part of an html page. Ajax programming can do many of the same things Flash programming can do, though it too isn't perfect. You can't really make an Ajax only site though. An Ajax site would still be sitting on an html and css foundation.

Use either when it adds something to your site. Don't use them just to use them.

A little tasteful flash to add a little spice is OK, using it as a crutch to avoid coding interaction, BIG NO!

I like flash thats only done on a website header. There comes a point when you can get to much flash on your website and it takes away from the importance of your website. Like most have said it can be extremely heavy.

I usually only use it for sound and video, but it does have some other uses. I do most of my animation with JavaScript, which, since it uses regular HTML elements, is much more friendly to search-engines, and can be easily managed from the database.

I think Flash is a good technology in theory, but poorly implemented by most sites. And by that, I mean that turning Flash off is a very good ad blocker. I have Flash turned on so I can watch things on TED.COM, but very little else.

Have you heard about the deal Google and Adobe are working out, to make Flash more friendly to search engines? http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/ar...chability.html If this really comes to fruition, and developers jump onboard, Flash could become a pretty cool technology. Not that it isn't already.

There will still be plenty of reason to use regular HTML, however, once it is searchable, because of how much easier HTML is to manage from a database, and because of how expressive JavaScript is.

I did see that, though I don't think it's as great as it first sounds. For example I think they still won't be able to index content that is essentially still an image within the Flash file. Of course that's pretty much what everything in Flash is.

From what I read it sounded like an improvement in how search engines can index Flash sites, but there's still a long way to go. Still good news, but not the big thing to make Flash search engine friendly yet.

Flash is best in simple 'show-off' websites - portfolios and advertising spin-offs. For the rest of websites, use it here and there - or in AIR applications or similar. You could use sIFR and the other one like that.... um.... something IFR.

Originally Posted by Foundationflash

Flash is best in simple 'show-off' websites - portfolios and advertising spin-offs. For the rest of websites, use it here and there - or in AIR applications or similar. You could use sIFR and the other one like that.... um.... something IFR.

I totally agree with this... Im not a big flash fan and therefor haven't spent much time learning the ins and outs of flash simply because I believe its value is mostly cosmetic... which is fine when it is used sparingly, but I don't believe an entire site should be made from flash (with a few exceptions).

I have taken to using ajax/jquery instead of flash... but only in places where the content isn't important or relevant to SEO. For example, in one of my current projects, I quoted for flash, but decided to go the ajax route instead and I am very satisfied with the result (as is my client):

http://vandardesign.cactusflatsdesign.com/sketch