Question

How do I make a web page that plays video in full screen?

Answer and Explanation

To create a web page that plays a video in full screen, you can use HTML5's <video> element along with some JavaScript to handle the full-screen functionality. Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. HTML Structure with the <video> Element:

Start by including a <video> element in your HTML. It's important to provide multiple source formats for cross-browser compatibility, along with controls for user interaction.

Example:

<video id="myVideo" width="640" height="360" controls>
  <source src="your-video.mp4" type="video/mp4">
  <source src="your-video.webm" type="video/webm">
  Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>

Replace "your-video.mp4" and "your-video.webm" with the actual paths to your video files.

2. JavaScript for Full Screen:

You'll need to add JavaScript to request full-screen mode and handle the event when full screen mode is activated. Different browsers use slightly different methods, so you will need to account for these differences.

Example Code:

document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() {
  const video = document.getElementById('myVideo');
  video.addEventListener('click', function() {
    if (video.requestFullscreen) {
      video.requestFullscreen();
    } else if (video.mozRequestFullScreen) { / Firefox /
      video.mozRequestFullScreen();
    } else if (video.webkitRequestFullscreen) { / Chrome, Safari and Opera /
      video.webkitRequestFullscreen();
    } else if (video.msRequestFullscreen) { / IE/Edge /
      video.msRequestFullscreen();
    }
  });
});

This script adds a click listener to the video element that toggles full-screen mode using the appropriate methods for various browsers. When the user clicks on the video, the script checks for various browser-specific fullscreen API methods, before entering full screen.

3. CSS (Optional but recommended):

To ensure that your video looks good in full-screen mode, add a small amount of CSS. The basic approach is to make the video the full width and height of the viewport.

Example CSS:

#myVideo:fullscreen, #myVideo:-webkit-full-screen, #myVideo:-moz-full-screen, #myVideo:-ms-fullscreen {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  object-fit: contain; / or cover, depending on your needs /
}

4. User Experience Considerations:

Consider adding a specific button or icon that triggers full screen, rather than using the video element itself for the request. This makes the full screen interaction more prominent and predictable for the user. You might also want to think about styling changes when fullscreen is active to give the user clear feedback.

5. Error Handling:

It can be useful to add some error handling so your users know if the full screen API is not available on their device.

By combining these HTML, JavaScript, and CSS elements, you can create a web page that offers a seamless full-screen video playback experience. Remember to test on various browsers and devices to ensure cross-browser compatibility and consistent user experience.

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