The movies are added to web pages just like pictures or other extras, like Java. When the page is sent from a web server to a browser, like Internet Explorer, Opera or Firefox, the movie file is sent too.

A special program, called the Flash Player, reads these movie files and displays them properly inside the web pages.

The player is a plug-in, a program that adds extra functions to your web browser. You don't need to start it specially as your browser does that automatically when you visit a site that uses Flash.

So when someone says 'you need Flash' to view this site, what they actually mean is that you need a copy of the Flash Player installed on your computer.

WebWise Flash download guides

There are other ways to make pages interactive and engaging, but they generally require more programming effort than Flash. As a result many website developers choose to use Flash.

Getting Flash

Flash isn't a standard part of the world wide web, but since it was launched (with the rather silly name 'Future Splash') in 1995, it has become the most common way to add cool extras to websites.

As a result many computers are sold with the Flash Player already installed. You might have been using it for ages without realising it.

In fact, over ninety-eight percent of internet users have already got Flash on their computers.