The ActionScript 3.0 flash.display package includes classes for visual objects that can appear in Flash Player. The following illustration shows the subclass relationships of these core display object classes.
The illustration shows the class inheritance of display object classes. Note that some of these classes, specifically StaticText, TextField, and Video, are not in the flash.display package, but they still inherit from the DisplayObject class.
You can instantiate objects of the following classes contained in the flash.display package:
Bitmap--You use the Bitmap class to define bitmap objects, either loaded from external files or rendered through ActionScript. You can load bitmaps from external files through the Loader class. You can load GIF, JPG, or PNG files. You can also create a BitmapData object with custom data and then create a Bitmap object that uses that data. You can use the methods of the BitmapData class to alter bitmaps, whether they are loaded or created in ActionScript. For more information, see The Loader class and Creating and manipulating bitmaps.
Loader--You use the Loader class to load external assets (either SWF files or graphics). For more information, see Loading content dynamically.
Shape--You use the Shape class to create vector graphics, such as rectangles, lines, circles, and so on. For more information, see Drawing vector graphics.
SimpleButton--A SimpleButton object has three button states: up, down, and over. For more information, see Working with SimpleButton objects.
Sprite--A Sprite object can contain graphics of its own, and it can contain child display objects. (The Sprite class extends the DisplayObjectContainer class). For more information, see Working with display object containers and Drawing vector graphics.
MovieClip--A MovieClip object is similar to a Sprite object, except that it also has a timeline. For more information, see Controlling ActionScript 3.0 movie clips.
The following classes, which are not in the flash.display package, are subclasses of the DisplayObject class:
The TextField class, included in the flash.text package--TextField objects are display objects for text display and input. For more information, see Working with text.
The Video class, included in the flash.media package--see Working with video.
You cannot instantiate instances of the following classes in the flash.display package, but they do extend the DisplayObject class:
AVM1Movie--The AVM1Movie class is used to represent loaded SWF files that are authored in ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0.
DisplayObjectContainer--The Loader, Stage, Sprite, and MovieClip classes each extend the DisplayObjectContainer class. For more information, see Working with display object containers.
InteractiveObject--InteractiveObject is the base class for all objects used to interact with the mouse and keyboard. SimpleButton, TextField, Video, Loader, Sprite, Stage, and MovieClip objects are all subclasses of the InteractiveObject class.
MorphShape--These objects are created when you apply a shape tween. You cannot instantiate them using ActionScript. Morph shapes are created only in the Flash authoring tool.
Stage--The Stage class extends the DisplayObjectContainer class. There is one Stage instance for an application, and it is at the top of the display list hierarchy. For more information, see Setting Stage properties.
Also, the StaticText class, in the flash.text package, extends the DisplayObject class, but you cannot instantiate an instance of it. Static text fields are created only in the Flash authoring tool.
