Flash, developed by Adobe, is a multimedia software platform used for creating animations, web applications, and interactive content. It gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s for its ability to deliver rich graphics and animations on the web, making it a staple for online games and interactive websites. However, as web standards evolved, Flash faced criticism for security vulnerabilities and performance issues. In 2017, Adobe announced the end of support for Flash Player, leading to its gradual phase-out from modern web browsers. This shift has paved the way for newer technologies like HTML5 and CSS3.