Undoubtedly, the canvas element in HTML5 is the feature that most developers will want to use to develop truly rich web applications – without needing to install browser plug-ins like Adobe’s Flash player. Canvas was born at a time when client richness is at the forefront of developers’ minds. Modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer 9 and 10 all support it. But what exactly is the canvas element in HTML5? How can you use it to create rich web applications?