HTML 5 is a markup language. This means that you can write text and “mark it up” so that you can apply different layouts and styles to it. HTML is the language of the web. One of the things HTML 5 was designed for was web applications. You can now control video, such as, pause stop rewind and so forth. Before this you would have to use a plug-in such as flash or something. There are other tools that let you use scalable vector graphics also.
New APIs
HTML5 specifies scripting application programming interfaces (APIs) that can be used with JavaScript. The new APIs are:
The canvas element for immediate mode 2D drawing.
Timed media playback
Offline Web Applications
Document editing
Drag-and-drop
Cross-document messaging
Browser history management
MIME type and protocol handler registration
Microdata
Web Storage
Technically HTML 5 has not been approved as an “approved” standard. It is still in a stage where it is changing and improving. I am looking forward for the technologies that are coming out in HTML 5 to become more mature. The possibilities will be very exciting.