Hypertext markup language (HTML) is the language that powers the internet. HTML5 is the fifth iteration of the language, released back in 2014, in an attempt to keep pace with the global proliferation of smartphone and tablet devices.
HTML5 was the death knell for online content powered by Adobe Flash plugins. These plugins proved to be resource-heavy, resulting in sluggish browser and device performance. At the other end of the spectrum, HTML5 was designed to offer a more lightweight and agile alternative.
HTML5 comprises of three types of code. HTML is used to provide the structure for a web page or web application. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is used to handle the visual aesthetics and JavaScript is used to power the effects of a web page or web application. HTML5 not only makes it possible to design and build any web application or game without the need for additional browser plugins, but it also makes it possible for apps and games to be fully responsive – compatible with both desktop and mobile devices, regardless of screen size.
This cross-platform compatibility has been a real boon for the gaming industry. It has ushered in a new wave of mobile gamers, with the ability to play the same massively multiplayer online (MMO) titles on smartphones and tablets as well as desktops. It’s also provided additional revenue streams for the iGaming sector, where online casino operators have been able to make their leading slot titles available on iOS and Android. This has been made possible due to the advancement of mobile chipset technology, which is on the verge of rivalling the leading budget gaming CPUs.
When can we expect HTML6?
With the digital world transformed by the impact of HTML5, seven years on you would be forgiven for wondering when the next iteration is likely to arrive. The simple answer to this is that it’s likely to be drip fed into the ether over the coming years, with no defined launch date. That’s because WHATWG – the body overseeing the standards of HTML and ensuring an internet that’s fit for purpose – has preferred to take a ‘living document’ approach to building on the success of HTML5.
Advancing HTML5 in this way means that HTML specifications are likely to be continually refined and updated in real time. This allows WHATWG to be agile and make effective changes wherever needed to futureproof the operation of web applications and limit the weight on web browsers.
Although we’re unlikely to get a package of enhancements or specifications in the same vein as HTML5, HTML6 is more likely to be a living standard or body of work. Within the development industry, there is an expectation that HTML6 will yield the following enhancements soon:
- Enhancements to authentication and security
HTML5 has helped the internet make huge steps forward in terms of authenticating and securing user connections with websites. Browsers now offer impressive protection using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. However, HTML6 is likely to forge ahead with further enhancements to keep sensitive user data away from the prying eyes of cyber-criminals. Enhancements to digital signatures, storing user keys off-site and even embedding keys into sites instead of relying on cookies should all help to improve the user experience. - Resizable imagery in browsers
Many experts within web development believe HTML6 will give browsers the flexibility to optimise image sizes to deliver the best possible viewing experience. There’s only so much that IMG and src tags can do to recommend optimal image sizes based on screen size and device. There is talk of a new <srcset> tag that will empower browsers to select from multiple sizes of the same image. - Native modals support
It is expected that a <dialog> element will be eventually added to HTML6. It is expected to work in the same vein as a modal window powered by JavaScript, but as a native browser-based equivalent. The <dialog> element will be effective for minor user interactions within a web application, such as confirming actions.
Although nothing is perfect when it comes to web development and the language of the internet, HTML5 has certainly changed the way we engage with digital content. HTML has been used across various platforms and various online industries, because it’s a web development tool with easy-to-understand content and vivid graphics. Let’s take the online casino industry as an example, HTML5 is a dominant tool in developing casino games from blackjack, slots to classic roulette games, giving the games sleek and crisp graphics. HTML6 and the ongoing enhancements that WHATWG approved will help set a new standard.