Pictures, Sound, and Other Media


Because an HTML file contains only text, the graphics you see in Web pages ”and the multimedia you can access from Web pages ”are not exactly a part of the HTML source file itself. Rather, graphics are linked to the page in either of two ways:

  • Inline images are graphics files whose filenames and locations are noted in the HTML file itself and identified as images by tags. Inline images are incorporated into the layout of the page ”all the images you see through a browser when you access the page.

  • External media are image, sound, or video files whose names and locations appear as links in the HTML file. These files do not appear or play automatically as part of the page. Instead, the page shows links that, when activated, download the file to play or display it.

Whether inline or external, the media files you use in your Web pages challenge the browsers that are used to view your page. The browser must be capable of displaying graphics to display inline graphics. External media files can be played by either the browser or, more commonly, helper applications (or plug-ins) opened by the browser.

When choosing to incorporate media into your page, you have to consider carefully the file types you use. The text-only rule of HTML files is what allows users of many different types of computers to access Web pages. Graphics files are less likely to be readable by a wide range of systems, and sound and video files, even less so. Even within the confines of PCs and Macintoshes, you need to consider whether your media will be supported by a broad spectrum of browsers or helper applications.



Sams Teach Yourself Internet and Web Basics All in One
Sams Teach Yourself Internet and Web Basics All in One
ISBN: 0672325330
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 350
Authors: Ned Snell

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net