Flash usage test
From SiteRay wiki
| SiteRay Test | |
|---|---|
| First appeared: | Sitescore 1.0 |
| Applies to: | All versions |
| Type: | Individual test |
| Scored: | Always |
What does it do?
Test whether Flash is used, and how effectively it is used by the website.
Why is it important?
Flash is frequently used on modern websites, to add animation, video or interactivity. Unfortunately it is also often abused. This test checks that Flash is used responsibly, and doesn’t lead to problems such as:
- Poor or no accessibility
- Difficulty ranking on search engines
- Bad usability for users without the required version of Flash
Example results
How is it measured?
Sitescore looks on every page for any sign of Flash. It checks whether or not these pages are exclusively Flash, or contain some non-Flash elements (such as a link for people who need to install Flash). It checks for the use of Flash detection scripts, which ensure that if the user doesn’t have the required version of Flash that this is explained to them.
The score is based on how well Flash is used, if at all. Omitting Flash detection, or links away from the Flash page will incur various penalties.
A 50% penalty is incurred if the website is entirely (or nearly entirely) in Flash. The calculation for this is complex, and weights up the number of internal links against the volume of Flash pages and non-Flash pages (even most Flash only websites have 1-2 non-Flash pages).
Technical explanation
On any page with Flash, several criteria are checked:
- Links - Are there any, and are they external (i.e. pointing to another domain name)
- Sniffer - Is there a recognised Flash detection script. The most common is the standard Adobe / Macromedia script created by Flash or Dreamweaver.
- Content - Is there a low amount of text content on this page (below 1000 characters).
Common problems
Some argue that the penalty for a Flash-only website is too strong. This penalty is based on our own experience of websites and represents our best recommendation at this time. All websites should offer some alternative (i.e. non-Flash) content which is readable to search engines and users without Flash. Bear in mind users with disabilities in particular find Flash sites particularly difficult, if not impossible to use.
How to improve this score
If the website is Flash only, you should add some non-Flash pages which cover the key information held in your Flash website (e.g. contact details, what you do). This is crucial for search engines and accessibility. You may find many users prefer to use this less flashy, but more functional website if given the choice.
Ensure that wherever Flash is used, the following occur:
- A link exists to download Flash
- A link exists to alternative content, if it exists
- Flash detection is used
The first two items are often wrapped up in a <noscript> tag, with Javascript used to detect Flash. If the required Flash is not supported, the contents of the <noscript> tag may be shown using Javascript. This way, search engines and all users of all browsers always see some content.
How to use this test effectively
Ensure that Flash is being used appropriately on the website. If you have a low score for this test, consider the How to improve this score section.
Further reading
- Jacob Nielsen - Flash: 99% Bad (note: most of the criticism here is directed at poor implementation, not Flash itself)
- Wikipedia: Adobe Flash
