Video.js Blog

Michael Roca2017-02-08

Video.js removes Flash from core player

In August of 2016, we announced our intention of removing Flash as a part of the core Video.js project. As Html5 video becomes the standard playback tech and Flash fades into obsolescence, it is time to remove Flash from the core player and move it to a separate code base. This will give us the ability to allow developers to continue to support legacy browsers by adding the tech themselves, while allowing us to minimize legacy code in Video.js and decrease the footprint of the player.

This follows in the footsteps of Chrome, Safari and Firefox which are all taking steps to deprecate Flash.

Chrome: Chrome 56 disables flash by default

Safari: Safari makes Flash a legacy plugin

Firefox: Reducing Adobe Flash Usage in Firefox

As of the Video.js 6.0 release, the dream of a Flashless future will come closer to a reality.

In the meantime, the separate videojs-flash project has been created for Flash tech support. When the videojs-flash plugin is added to the player, the Flash tech is added to the tech order.

<link rel="stylesheet" href="path/video.js/dist/video-js.css">
<script src="path/video.js/dist/video.js"></script>
<script src="path/videojs-flash/dist/videojs-flash.js"></script>

<video  id='vid' class='video-js' controls height=300 width=600>
  <source src="video.mp4" type="video/mp4">
</video>

<script>
  var player = videojs('vid');
</script>