Flash wmode

wmode is a parameter exclusive to tag referring to Flash movies. The default value is wmode=window.

wmode=window

When wmode=window, the Flash movie is not rendered in the page. It is instead displayed in a separate window than the browser content (as inspected with Spy++ or WinSpy++). This mode will have the best performance as the browser does not have to redraw a portion of the page on each frame. However, this mode prevents you from having content appear above or below the Flash movie.

• Best Performance
• Rendered in separate window
• Opaque background
• Doesn't allow content below
• Doesn't allow content above

wmode=opaque

When wmode=opaque, the Flash movie is rendered as part of the page. No window is created for the movie. The movie will be rendered with the background color set during the publishing process and no content will be allowed behind. On each frame, content which appear above the movie will have to be redrawn by the browser, thus affecting performance.

• Good Performance
• Rendered as part of the page
• Opaque background
• Doesn't allow content below
• Allows content above

wmode=transparent

When wmode=transparent, the Flash movie is rendered as part of the page. No window is created for the movie. The background color of the movie will be transparent. Thus, any non-opaque section of the movie will allow underlying content to display. On each frame, content which appear above and below the movie will have to be redrawn by the browser, thus greatly affecting performance.

• Fair Performance
• Rendered as part of the page
• Transparent background
• Allows content below
• Allows content above