Using Flash for specific portions of a site.

[GJPG5]

Just wanted to throw a quick thought out there.

Why would it be a bad idea to use flash as an element in a page rather than an entire page (ie: for navigation, portfolio, product display, etc.)?

I understand the fact that "not everyone uses flash or is flash enabled", but beyond that?

[fredmv]

Usability issues come to mind. See, if it's just for a header or something, and you want to use <insert cool font that practically no-one has here>, sure--do that. If, and only if, you have a proper accessible alternative available (think: things like sIFR).

It becomes a problem when you have the entire site based around a Flash animation, because it breaks the back button[1], not to mention link colors don't work[1], and you can't make text bigger/smaller[1], among many other things.

[1] http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20001029.html

[ray326]

The current Zeldman article is Flash/accessibility related.
http://www.zeldman.com/daily/0705d.shtml