Editing Splash screen

{{short description|User interface element}}
[[File:Blender 2.65-splash.png|thumb|upright=1.3|The splash screen for version 2.65 of [[Blender (software)|Blender]]]]
A '''splash screen''' is a [[graphical control element]] consisting of a [[Window (computing)|window]] containing an [[image]], a logo, and the current version of the software. A splash screen can appear while a game or program is launching. A '''splash page''' is an introduction page on a [[website]].<ref>{{cite web|website=About.com|url=http://webdesign.about.com/od/navigation/a/aa020303a.htm|title=Pros and Cons of Splash Pages in Web Design|author=Kyrnin, Jennifer|date=15 October 2019|access-date=12 June 2014|archive-date=25 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625062735/http://webdesign.about.com/od/navigation/a/aa020303a.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Splash Pages: Do We Really Need Them?|url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/10/splash-pages-do-we-really-need-them/|work=Smashing Magazine|author=Lennartz, Sven|date=October 11, 2007}}</ref> A splash screen may cover the entire [[computer screen|screen]] or web page; or may simply be a rectangle near the center of the screen or page. The splash screens of [[operating systems]] and some applications that expect to be run in full screen usually cover the entire screen.

== Purpose ==
Splash screens are typically used by particularly large applications to notify the user that the program is in the process of loading. They provide feedback that a lengthy process is underway. Occasionally, a [[progress bar]] within the splash screen indicates the loading progress. A splash screen disappears when the application's main window appears. Splash screens may be added for a period of time and then replaced anew.

Splash screens typically serve to enhance the [[look and feel]] of an application or [[web site]], hence they are often visually appealing. They may also have [[animation]]s, graphics, and [[sound]].

On the [[World Wide Web|Web]], a splash screen is a [[web page|page]] of a [[web site]] that acts as a front page prior to displaying the [[home page]]. Designers may use splash pages:

* To direct users to the appropriate website for their [[country]] or [[language]] preference.
* To direct users to a low-[[Bandwidth (computing)|bandwidth]] site or one more accessible to disabled users.
* As an additional form of [[advertising]].
* to restrict access to content such as [[pornography]], [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] advertising or sales, or [[gambling]].
* As an aesthetic complement to the main page.
* To grab someone's attention to take them to a page with more details usually for a product that they are selling.
An early use of the splash screen on a Flash website was to enable the site developer to launch the site in a JavaScript-controlled new window without browser elements such as scroll-bars or an address bar, and in the exact size of the Flash movie. This has gone out of style with the predominance of pop-up blockers. Instead, many Flash web pages now allow their audience to choose to go to full screen viewing.

Since splash screens often increase the wait for the desired content and may take a long time to load, they are not liked by all users. Web splash screens are especially inconvenient for users with slow [[internet connection]]s as the first page may take longer to load. Moreover, if the user has turned off rich content, such as images, [[Adobe Flash|Flash]], or [[Adobe Shockwave|Shockwave]], the splash page may not load at all. Splash pages and any associated main pages created in [[Adobe Flash|Flash]] often cannot be accessed by search engines or handled by text readers for the blind.<ref>{{cite web|title=Flash Accessibility Issues|url=http://webaim.org/techniques/flash/#issues|website=WebAIM.org|access-date=September 8, 2015|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905090116/http://webaim.org/techniques/flash/#issues|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Software support==

The [[Java (programming language)|Java]] programming language has a specific class for creating splash screens, called <code>java.awt.SplashScreen</code><ref>{{cite web|title=SplashScreen (Java Platform SE 6)|url=http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/awt/SplashScreen.html|access-date=September 8, 2015|archive-date=July 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726034839/http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/awt/SplashScreen.html|url-status=live}}</ref> that handles standard splash screen functions, e.g. display an image centered on screen that disappears when the first program window opens.

Splash screens can also be created in [[HTML]] and [[Cascading Style Sheets|CSS]] if they are designed for a purpose other than as a loading screen. Instead, they are used for other purposes such as giving the option to pick the language.

The [[Android (operating system)|Android operating system]] (starting with [[Android 12]]) automatically generates a splash screen for every installed app, which can be customised by app developers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-12-features-1195735/|title=Android 12 features: Everything you need to know|date=August 6, 2024|website=Android Authority|last=Hindy|first=Joe|last2=Walker|first2=Andy|last3=Brown|first3=C. Scott|last4=Westenberg|first4=Jimmy|access-date=October 20, 2024|archive-date=August 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803160940/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-12-features-1195735/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Core Splashscreen Jetpack library [[backports]] this functionality for older Android versions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.xda-developers.com/android-12-splash-screen-api-backport/|title=New Jetpack library adds backward compatibility for Android 12's Splash Screen API|date=June 30, 2021|website=[[XDA Developers]]|last=Rahman|first=Mishaal|access-date=October 20, 2024|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316024333/https://www.xda-developers.com/android-12-splash-screen-api-backport/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Bootsplash]] – splash displayed while booting up the computer
* [[Interstitial webpage]]
* [[Loading screen]]
* [[Proxy pattern]]
* [[Glossary of comics terminology#Splash|Splash page]] – comic book terminology

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Splash screens}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.zdnet.com/photos/dinosaur-sightings-windows-splash-screens-from-1-01-to-7/436317 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317233932/http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/dinosaur-sightings-windows-splash-screens-from-1-01-to-7/ |archive-date=2016-03-17 |website=ZDnet |title=Dinosaur Sightings: Windows splash screens from 1.01 to Vista}} A collection of Microsoft Windows splash screens since version 1.01.
*{{cite web|url=http://phpexperts.blogspot.com/2007/05/splash-screens-with-php-gtk.html |website=PHPExperts|title=PHP GTK Splash screens|author=Franco, José }} Information on how to program splash screens.
*{{cite web|url=http://www.guidebookgallery.org/splashes |website=GUIde Book|title= Gallery of splash screens}} [[Screenshots]] of many different applications' splash screens, including previous versions.
*{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualplastic.net/html/logo_spl.html|website=VirtualPlastic.net|title= Splash screens}} Information on how to remove various splash screens.
*{{cite web|url=http://www.digitallis.co.uk/pc/SplashKiller/index.html |website=Digitalis|title= SplashKiller}} Program that removes the majority of splash screens on Windows.
*{{cite web|url=http://www.splashscreen.pro |website=SplashScreen.pro|title= SplashScreen}} Simple tool that allows you to create all “Splash Screens” for iOS & Android Apps in one click.


{{Graphical control elements}}

[[Category:Graphical control elements]]