Trying to understand Adobe AIR and full screen mode

Question

This adobe's page says that:

In Flash Player, full-screen mode can only be initiated through ActionScript in response to a mouse click (including right-click) or keypress. AIR content running in the application security sandbox does not require that full-screen mode be entered in response to a user gesture.

I thought Adobe AIR was a development tool. But this text above is making look like it is either a player, as it is comparing it to the Flash Player.

So, is AIR both development tool and a player?

Answer 1

AIR is not a development tool but rather an application runtime that allows Flex/ActionScript apps to run as a desktop application instead of within a browser window. One advantage of compiling your app as an AIR app is that it is not limited by the security sandbox that comes with running code within a browser. This means you can read/write files, go into fullscreen mode without constraints, etc. On the downside it requires the user to install your application (as well as the AIR runtime, if not already installed) rather than simply accessing your app via a webpage. Hope that helps clarify things for you.