It is no secret that Google Chrome, and really the entire web browser industry, has had it out for Adobe Flash for some time now, and this week Google revealed its plans to finally phase out the notoriously insecure plugin in favor of HTML5.

Over the years, Flash has been used online to power everything from browser games to streaming video and more. In a recent blog post, the Google Chrome team admitted that Flash had its day in the sun, but now it is time to move on.

“Adobe Flash Player played a pivotal role in the adoption of video, gaming and animation on the Web,” Anthony LaForge, curator of Flash in Chrome, wrote in Google’s blog post. “Today, sites typically use technologies like HTML5, giving you improved security, reduced power consumption and faster page load times. Going forward, Chrome will de-emphasize Flash in favor of HTML5.”

According to Google’s timeline, its web browser will begin blocking all “behind the scenes” Flash applications in September with Chrome 53. Meanwhile, the big shift away from Flash will happen in December with Chrome 55, which will make HTML5 the default experience for all users with the exception of sites that support Flash only.

“For those, you’ll be prompted to enable Flash when you first visit the site,” LaForge noted. “Aside from that, the only change you’ll notice is a safer and more power-efficient browsing experience.”

Chrome is not the only application moving away from Flash. Rival web browser Mozilla Firefox announced last month that it would begin blocking Flash applications by default, and other web services like Facebook and YouTube have been transitioning to HTML5.

“Flash helped make the Web a rich, dynamic experience, and shaped the modern set of web standards,” LaForge concluded. “We continue to work closely with Adobe to ensure that your web experience is as fast and secure as possible and to help the Web transition to HTML5.”

Photo by hpeguk