Automatically convert media links with jQuery
This post will show you how to automatically convert media links with jQuery, for instance audio links to a Flash-based audio player.
I’m currently building a PHP-based framework that can be used to create web sites with a database and PHP classes that auto-generate corresponding JavaScript types that trigger the same functionality in an asynchronous way. It also comes with a CMS that lets you add pages with text, images, links and any data you like.
As I now use this framework to create a personal web site, which contains a bunch of links to MP3 files and YouTube clips, I want to let visitors play this content directly from the web site. I therefore want to convert these links to proper media players, depending on the content type.
Imagine my excitement, when I found a jQuery Flash and Media plugins, that convert
“a” tags that refer to MP3 files or YouTube clips to a music/video player! I use it
to automatically convert any a tag that uses the media class to the proper media
player, based on the media type.
The Flash plugin has been discontinued, but the jQuery media plugin is still up: