RICH INTERNET APPLICATION

A rich Internet application (RIA; sometimes called an Installable Internet Application) is

a Web application that has many of the characteristics of desktop application software,
typically delivered by way of a site-specific browser, a browser plug-in, an
independent sandbox, extensive use of JavaScript, or a virtual machine. Adobe
Flash, JavaFX, and Microsoft Silverlight are currently the three most common platforms.
Google trends shows (as of September 2012) that frameworks based on a plug-in are in the
process of being replaced by HTML5/JavaScript-based alternatives.
Users generally need to install a software framework using the computer's operating
system before launching the application, which typically downloads, updates, verifies and
executes the RIA. This is the main differentiator from HTML5/JavaScript-based alternatives
like Ajax that use built-in browser functionality to implement comparable interfaces. As can
be seen on the List of rich Internet application frameworks which includes even server-side
frameworks, while some consider such interfaces to be RIAs, some consider them
competitors to RIAs; and others, including Gartner, treat them as similar but separate
technologies.
RIAs dominate in browser based gaming as well as applications that require access to video
capture (with the notable exception of Gmail, which uses its own task-specific browser plug-
in).Web standards such as HTML5 have progressed and the compliance of web browsers with
those standards has improved somewhat.

Techniques:
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash manipulates vector and raster graphics to provide animation of text,
drawings, and still images. It supports bidirectional streaming of audio and video, and it can
capture user input via mouse, keyboard, microphone, and camera. Flash contains an object-
oriented language called ActionScript and supports automation via the JavaScript Flash
language (JSFL). Flash content may be displayed on various computer systems and devices,
using Adobe Flash Player, which is available free of charge for common web browsers,
some mobile phones and a few other electronic devices (using Flash Lite).
Apache Flex, formerly Adobe Flex, is a software development kit (SDK) for the development
and deployment of cross-platform RIAs based on the Adobe Flash platform. Initially
developed by Macromedia and then acquired by Adobe Systems, Flex was donated by Adobe
to the Apache Software Foundation in 2011.
Java applet
Java applets are used to create interactive visualizations and to present video, three
dimensional objects and other media. Java applets are more appropriate for complex
visualizations that require significant programming effort in high level language or
communications between applet and originating server.
JavaFX
JavaFX is a software platform for creating and delivering RIAs that can run across a
wide variety of connected devices. The current release (JavaFX 8, July 2016) enables
building applications for desktop, browser and mobile phones and comes with 3D support.
RIA for mobile phones is called Rich Mobile Application. TV set-top boxes, gaming
consoles, Blu-ray players and other platforms are planned. Java FX runs as plug-in Java
applet or via Webstart.
Microsoft Silverlight
Silverlight was proposed by Microsoft as another proprietary alternative. The technology has
not been widely accepted and, for instance, lacks support on many mobile devices. Some
examples of application were video streaming for events including the 2008 Summer
Olympics in Beijing,[9] the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver,[10] and the 2008 conventions
for both major political parties in the United States. [11] Silverlight was also used by Netflix for
its instant video streaming service.[12] Silverlight is no longer under active development and is
not supported in Microsoft Edge, Microsoft's most recent browser.
Other techniques
RIAs could use XForms to enhance their functionality. Using XML and XSLT along
with some XHTML, CSS and JavaScript can also be used to generate richer client side UI
components like data tables that can be resorted locally on the client without going back to
the server. Mozilla and Internet Explorer browsers both support this.