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The HTML5 specification is the much-discussed, much-anticipated follow-on to HTML4. Interest in HTML5 is high since it will enable a new class of Web applications that support multimedia content and offline capability without the need for proprietary plug-in technology.
The HTML5 specification defines the fifth major revision of the core language of the World Wide Web: the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), also known as the lingua franca of the Web. The Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG) started work on the HTML5 specification under the name Web Applications 1.0. As of October 2009, the specification is in the "Last Call" state at the WHATWG.
HTML5 aims to reduce the need for proprietary plug-in-based rich Internet application (RIA) technologies such as Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight and Sun JavaFX, though it would take many years to do so. HTML4 did not allow the embedding or control of multimedia content, whereas HTML5's new audio and video elements enable developers to embed and control multimedia content without Flash.
Ian Hickson, editor of the HTML5 specification, said he expects the specification to reach the W3C Candidate Recommendation stage during 2012 and W3C Recommendation in 2022. However, many parts of the specification are stable and may be implemented in products now.
In addition to specifying markup, HTML5 specifies scripting application programming interfaces (APIs). There are also new APIs, such as:
• The canvas tag for immediate mode 2D drawing
• Timed media playback
• Offline storage database
• Document editing
• Drag-and-drop
• Cross-document messaging
• Browser history management
• MIME type and protocol handler registration.
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