# What's the difference between Flash and Shockwave? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-flash-and-shockwave/336366 "2005-12-19T23:24:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-flash-and-shockwave/336366/1 "2005-12-19T23:24:11Z")
The Title: line is the question. Sometimes, a site will have Macromedia Flash movies and games. Some other sites will have Macromedia Shockwave movies and games. What’s the difference between the two programs? Why have two different programs from one company that do the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![Tevildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Tevildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tevildo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-flash-and-shockwave/336366/2 "2005-12-19T23:47:53Z")
They’re the same thing. “ShockWave” was the original name of the program used to create them, “Flash” is the current one. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-flash-and-shockwave/336366/3 "2005-12-19T23:55:11Z")
That’s wrong; they’re different things and they require different players; details here@ > **[Adobe: Creative, marketing and document management solutions](https://www.adobe.com/?id=tn_16142)** > > Adobe is changing the world through digital experiences. We help our customers create, deliver and optimize content and applications.