HTML5 Video

There are two primary methods for users to see their preferred content: over the internet or on linked TV devices. Development teams usually decide to use an HTML5-based video player (see our most recent blog post on the best HTML5 video players) that can be customized to meet the needs of particular devices and browsers to engage those audiences and provide them with the greatest experience.

HTML5 video properties are applied to this <video> element to allow users to alter its appearance, play and pause videos, switch languages, activate subtitles, and much more. We have covered all you need to know about video tags in HTML5, whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, as HTML5 is the main language used to incorporate video content on web-based platforms and applications.

This comprehensive guide to 2024 HTML5 video tags will give you a complete understanding of it, covering everything from the fundamentals to more sophisticated features. It covers the definition, operation, and customization of HTML5 video elements and tags using the most popular HTML5 video characteristics.

What is the Video Element in HTML?

The code that emphasizes the video element, its properties, and the embedded video material on web pages representing the syntax, functionality, and related behaviour is referred to as the HTML Video Element. In addition to providing a multitude of customizable qualities and features to guarantee accessibility and responsiveness, the element supports a multitude of video formats. Although it is frequently used together with video tags, it refers to every component of the HTML video element that the video tag creates within the Document Object Model (DOM).

HTML5 Video Features

In the example above, we have already discussed a few HTML video characteristics. We'll go over every key detail we need to be aware of to use this element efficiently here.

1. Autoplay

When the video material is loaded and ready, the autoplay property causes the video to start playing automatically without user interaction. Websites that employ video backdrops that begin playing as soon as the page loaded frequently exhibit this behavior.

It is not advised to have videos with sound playing automatically as this might frighten and divert viewers in addition to posing accessibility problems. For this reason, movies with sound cannot be set to play automatically in Chromium web browsers. It is preferable to turn off the audio whenever feasible while auto playing a video. We can provide users the choice to unmute the sound if it's crucial to the video. Autoplay, like several other HTML video characteristics, can only be true or false as it is a Boolean attribute. Include autoplay inside the opening <video> element to use the attribute.

2. Controls

Another Boolean element is controlled, which, if present, causes the video player to display controls that allow the user to adjust playback, volume, etc.

3. Loop

The video will automatically restart once it ends and continue endlessly if the loop property is present.

4. Muted

The video audio is muffled via the muted attribute. This is a great option for videos with audio that play automatically. The user has the option to unmute the video if controls are available.

5. Playsinline

Thanks to the playsinline property, the video plays within the web page's context. This is how desktop browsers operate by default. However, on mobile browsers, the video will open in full screen. The playsinline feature stops this.

6. Poster

The poster specifies an image that appears in the video area before the user initiates the video. If the poster property is not present, the browser will display the first frame of the video as the poster image.

7. Preload

The <video> and <audio> elements employ the preload property. To save load time, it instructs the browser as to what information may be loaded before the video starts. One of the following values is accepted by it:

• Auto: When the website first loads, the browser can load the complete video.
• Metadata: When a website first loads, the browser can only load video metadata.
• None: When the website first loads, the browser shouldn't load the video.
• Src: The src property indicates the video's source. Every <video> element has to have a source given, either via src or a <source> element contained inside <video>.

8. Width and height

These parameters determine the video display's width and height in pixels (percentages are not permitted) by including a width and height value, content that changes as the page loads can be avoided.

Accessibility of HTML Video

It's crucial to consider accessibility best practices when embedding any media so that users with limitations and impairments may interact with your material in the same way as other users. When producing video material that is accessible, bear the following points in mind.

1. Sound

Avoid automatically turning on the audio for videos wherever it is possible. When audio suddenly begins to play on a website, most users don't enjoy it. Videos can contain sound, but viewers should be able to unmute the autoplay function or start the movie manually.

2. Captions & Subtitles

Videos with captions and subtitles provide written alternatives to the audio. While captions display the spoken language in the video and offer additional information to help viewers with hearing impairments, comprehend the material, subtitles convert the spoken language in the video to another language. A video needs subtitles to be accessible. Adding subtitles to HTML video is most commonly accomplished by utilizing the WebVTT standard and the <track> element.

3. Audio vs Video

The <video> element may also be used to play audio files. Since timed text cannot be added to the original HTML <audio> element, this is a standard method for adding captions or subtitles to audio recordings. However, to improve the experience for screen reader users, it's nearly always preferable to use <audio> when embedding audio.

4. Press the play button for HTML5 video.

The days of using Flash to embed videos are long gone. Using the <video> element is now the standard for embedding videos on websites, thanks to HTML5's release. We can use HTML video to create immersive experiences for your visitors and increase conversions on your website by becoming an expert in this flexible element.

<html>

<body>

<h1>Example for the video tag</h1>

<video width="200" height="200" controls>

  <source src="one.mp4" type="video/mp4">

  <source src="movie.ogg" type="video/ogg">

</video>

</body>

</html>

What Issues does the HTML5 Video Tag have?

While the <video> element simplifies the streaming of videos on browsers and web-based devices, it has several drawbacks that might impact playback as well as the developer and user experience. These problems are:

1. Problems with Codec Support and Browser Compatibility

A different team or company owns each browser, so each has a distinct priority when it comes to supporting particular formats and codecs. If our browser doesn't support the format we're using, playback problems might eventually result.

2. Problems with performance and absence of adaptive streaming

High-resolution movies can be quite resource-intensive for users. Moreover, the video tag may not be able to adjust to a user's network situation since it does not natively support adaptive bitrate streaming protocols like HLS and MPEG-DASH (unless the browser is Safari, which does). However, a video player can obtain the ability to dynamically adjust the video's streaming quality to network settings by implementing Media Source Extensions (MSE) in conjunction with the <video> element. See Adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) in our other blog. Additionally, you may test your stream on our Player sample to check how well it works and make sure it's functioning properly.

3. Content security

Certain content has to be protected, and since HTML5 isn't natively supported, it can't do that. To safeguard it, you'll need a video player with an integrated DRM or other content protection features.

4. The absence of a unified user interface

Even though all major browsers support the <video> element for HTML5, users may become frustrated and give up because of the differences in each browser's streaming video experience.

Thumbnail seeking and multi-audio playback are examples of the additional functionality of video players that are typically not supported; in terms of subtitle compatibility, a browser's supported format may differ from what your content uses.

Conclusion

The HTML5 Video Element and tag have played an essential role in enabling platforms to broadcast video to users. Thanks to the HTML5 Video characteristics, we may provide your audience with a better experience with its functionality and customization options. We've also included the best practices for embedding videos and maintaining accessibility on the web.

Regardless of our level of expertise as developers, the knowledge we gain from this article should enable us to produce more interesting, user-friendly, and cross-browser-compatible video content. As we continue to explore the dynamic realm of multimedia and web video, keep these ideas in mind.