Flash file formats: .FLV and .SWF
There are two extensions available for flash video format: .flv and .swf. How are they different?
(1) A .flv file (flash video) is a picture-based video stream and audio. If you are running a streaming service, flv would be a good choice. The upstream condition is that any part of this file can be accessed by the client terminal and is not waiting to be downloaded at any time. Then again, running a streaming service is expensive.
(2) .swf is also a Macromedia Flash file format and is a complete video-audio file with scripts and more. This will facilitate HTTP (progressive) downloads, also known as "psuedo streaming". When part of the file is downloaded, the video clip plays immediately, but the client will wait for the flash file fragment to download before accessing it (no fast forwarding) unless the entire file is downloaded in its entirety. This is what we often talk about, it is a simple, inexpensive, and convenient way to stream your video media. SWF is not the official abbreviation. Some people have claimed that it is the abbreviation of "ShockWave Flash" or "Small Web Format".
To embed flash in the page, you can use the following method: