Introduction to SMIL

SMIL is an easy-to-learn language similar to HTML, used to describe audiovisual presentations (audiovisual presentations).

The basic knowledge you should possess

Before continuing your studies, you should have a basic understanding of the following knowledge:

  • HTML
  • XHTML
  • XML
  • XML namespace

If you want to learn these projects first, please visit ourHome pageAccess these tutorials.

What is SMIL?

  • SMIL stands for Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language
  • The pronunciation of SMIL is "smile"
  • SMIL is a language used to describe audiovisual presentations
  • SMIL is easy to learn and understand
  • SMIL is a language similar to HTML
  • SMIL is written in XML
  • SMIL presentations (SMIL presentations) can be written using text editors
  • SMIL is a W3C standard

A simplified SMIL example:

<smil>
<body>
  <seq repeatCount="indefinite">
    <img src="image1.jpg" dur="3s" />
    <img src="image2.jpg" dur="3s" />
  </seq>
</body>
</smil>

From the above example, you can see that SMIL is a language based on XML, easy to understand, and can be written with simple text editors.

<smil></smil> The tag defines a SMIL document.<body> The main subject presented by the element definition.<seq> defines the display sequence.repeatCount Property defined an indeterminate loop. Each <img> Elements are all src Property to define image resources, while dur Property defines the display duration.

What can SMIL do?

  • SMIL can be used to create Internet and intranet applications
  • SMIL can be used to create slide show presentations
  • SMIL has been described as the Internet counterpart of PowerPoint
  • SMIL presentations can display various file types (text, video, audio...)
  • SMIL can display multiple files simultaneously
  • SMIL can display files from multiple web servers
  • SMIL can include links to other SMIL presentations
  • SMIL presentations can include control buttons (stop, start, next...)
  • SMIL has functions to define element sequence and duration
  • SMIL has functions to define element position and visibility

In W3C's SMIL

Since 1997, the W3C has been developing SMIL as a language for fine-grained multimedia presentation, combining video, audio, text, and graphics in real time.

In November 1997, SMIL was submitted as a working draft.

SMIL 1.0 became a W3C standard in June 1998.

SMIL 2.0 was established as a W3C standard in August 2001.