SWFAddress
Encyclopedia
SWFAddress is an open-source JavaScript
library
that enables Adobe Flash
/Flex
and JavaScript
/AJAX
websites and web applications to support deep linking
, a practice that enables users to link to a specific section or page of the content.
Its importance is because such Rich Internet Application
platforms provide only a single URL
to access the specific content, and any user navigation within the content cannot be uniquely identified, or shared by means of the URL.
When the developer of the content integrates with SWFAddress, users are able to use standard browser navigation functionality, share and bookmark unique URLs that represent the currently displayed section or state of the content.
The library is commonly used on Flash websites and web applications being the only available deep linking JavaScript library for Flash on the web. SWFAddress has been found to be used by over 100,000 websites as of 2011.
to interact with web browsers and simulate page navigation, and works in two ways:
The library is built to integrate with the free Google Analytics
web analytics
system in order to record page view statistics and track popularity of individual pages, as the viewer navigates through the virtual pages or states of the content. It also integrates with the popular SWFObject
JavaScript library to automatically enable deep linking on content loaded with the same.
SWFAddress works with all major web browser
s on all major operating systems. It can be integrated with Flash content written in the outdated ActionScript
1, the recent ActionScript 2, or the latest ActionScript 3.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
library
JavaScript library
A JavaScript library is a library of pre-written JavaScript which allows for easier development of JavaScript-based applications, especially for AJAX and other web-centric technologies....
that enables Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
/Flex
Adobe Flex
Adobe Flex is a software development kit released by Adobe Systems for the development and deployment of cross-platform rich Internet applications based on the Adobe Flash platform...
and JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
/AJAX
Ajax
- Mythology :* Ajax , son of Telamon, ruler of Salamis and a hero in the Trojan War, also known as "Ajax the Great"* Ajax the Lesser, son of Oileus, ruler of Locris and the leader of the Locrian contingent during the Trojan War.- People :...
websites and web applications to support deep linking
Deep linking
On the World Wide Web, deep linking is making a hyperlink that points to a specific page or image on a website, instead of that website's main or home page. Such links are called deep links.-Example:...
, a practice that enables users to link to a specific section or page of the content.
Its importance is because such Rich Internet Application
Rich Internet application
A Rich Internet Application is a Web application that has many of the characteristics of desktop application software, typically delivered either by way of a site-specific browser, via a browser plug-in, independent sandboxes, extensive use of JavaScript, or virtual machines...
platforms provide only a single URL
Uniform Resource Locator
In computing, a uniform resource locator or universal resource locator is a specific character string that constitutes a reference to an Internet resource....
to access the specific content, and any user navigation within the content cannot be uniquely identified, or shared by means of the URL.
When the developer of the content integrates with SWFAddress, users are able to use standard browser navigation functionality, share and bookmark unique URLs that represent the currently displayed section or state of the content.
The library is commonly used on Flash websites and web applications being the only available deep linking JavaScript library for Flash on the web. SWFAddress has been found to be used by over 100,000 websites as of 2011.
Functionality
SWFAddress uses the "hash" portion of the URLFragment identifier
In computer hypertext, a fragment identifier is a short string of characters that refers to a resource that is subordinate to another, primary resource...
to interact with web browsers and simulate page navigation, and works in two ways:
- When the user navigates within the content, it simulates a page navigation so browsers display the appropriate URL and page Title.
- When the URL changes in the browser, either by users pressing Back/Forward or typing a specific deep link URL, it informs the content to navigate appropriately.
The library is built to integrate with the free Google Analytics
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free service offered by Google that generates detailed statistics about the visitors to a website. The product is aimed at marketers as opposed to webmasters and technologists from which the industry of web analytics originally grew. It is the most widely used website...
web analytics
Web analytics
Web analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of internet data for purposes of understanding and optimizing web usage....
system in order to record page view statistics and track popularity of individual pages, as the viewer navigates through the virtual pages or states of the content. It also integrates with the popular SWFObject
SWFObject
SWFObject is an open-source JavaScript library used to embed Adobe Flash content onto Web pages, which is supplied as one small JavaScript file...
JavaScript library to automatically enable deep linking on content loaded with the same.
SWFAddress works with all major web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
s on all major operating systems. It can be integrated with Flash content written in the outdated ActionScript
ActionScript
ActionScript is an object-oriented language originally developed by Macromedia Inc. . It is a dialect of ECMAScript , and is used primarily for the development of websites and software targeting the Adobe Flash Player platform, used on Web pages in the form of...
1, the recent ActionScript 2, or the latest ActionScript 3.
See also
- Deep linkingDeep linkingOn the World Wide Web, deep linking is making a hyperlink that points to a specific page or image on a website, instead of that website's main or home page. Such links are called deep links.-Example:...
- Fragment identifierFragment identifierIn computer hypertext, a fragment identifier is a short string of characters that refers to a resource that is subordinate to another, primary resource...
- Adobe Flash PlayerAdobe Flash PlayerThe Adobe Flash Player is software for viewing multimedia, Rich Internet Applications and streaming video and audio, on a computer web browser or on supported mobile devices. Flash Player runs SWF files that can be created by the Adobe Flash authoring tool, by Adobe Flex or by a number of other...
- SWFSWFSWF is an Adobe Flash file format used for multimedia, vector graphics and ActionScript. Originating with FutureWave Software, then transferred to Macromedia, and then coming under the control of Adobe, SWF files can contain animations or applets of varying degrees of interactivity and function.,...
- JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
- AJAXAjax- Mythology :* Ajax , son of Telamon, ruler of Salamis and a hero in the Trojan War, also known as "Ajax the Great"* Ajax the Lesser, son of Oileus, ruler of Locris and the leader of the Locrian contingent during the Trojan War.- People :...