Flash is an integrated development environment(IDE), used to create content for the Internet and multimedia applications. It is a animation authoring tool that creates animated images, games and web interactivity. Flash can be used to create , buttons, moving banners, introductions, and slideshows.
It has an editor used to create vector art. It allows creators to import other images, art or videos. For more advanced Flash applications it has its own scripting language called Actionscript. Actionscript allows the creator to create games.
Flash creates a .fla file that is published as .swf file to be used on the internet
Toolbars- drawing and painting tools
Stage- where objects interact
Timeline- provides controls, allows objects to move and interact.