Loader vs MovieClip

[JonnyDL-HV74P1]

I'm trying to work out the details in my head about some of these objects.

A loader, and a movieClip

Is the loader the default object to use to load images/movies onto the stage (Actionscript 3)? The movieclip is more of an actionscript 2 object?

(thought I read that somewhere).

If not what is the difference between these two objects and why would you use one and not the other.

(you don't need to go onto too much detail)

///I'm learning AS3 but there is some AS 2 scripts (trying to convert to 3) that are used in our projects, so I've had to bounce back and forth with how I code.

Thanks for any clarifiactaion

[Greg Dove]

Is the loader the default object to use to load images/movies onto the stage (Actionscript 3)?

yes, a Loader is more like (i.e. similar to) as2's MovieClipLoader

and as3 MovieClip is similar to as2 MovieClip

The way you create new MovieClips in code in as3 is different to as2 (and is more consistent with how you create new objects of any type)

[JonnyDL-HV74P1]

I have noticed the consistancy (which has been helpful)

Thanks for the assitance

[clbeech]

to expand on G's illustrious anwser

- in AS3 there are several types of 'Display Objects' including both the Loader and the MovieClip class, as well as Sprite, Shape and Bitmap.

a Loader object is used when loading images or swf files, it can only contain one child and does not have the same property set as many of the other display objects since it is specialized in nature.

a MovieClip object contains a timeline, whereas a Sprite is does not.

a Shape object is used mainly for the drawing API and may only contain vector shapes.

a Bitmap object is used for raster graphic images (ie. pixels), and is treated quite different than other objects.

a Button symbol is also a type of display object.

[JonnyDL-HV74P1]

Thanks for the info it certainly cleared it up,

I'll need to look for some of those different properties

between the loader, and movieclip.

(for my own clarity)

thanks again