- Movie clip
- will not show the animations within the symbol
- can contain images, videos, sounds other symbols and shapes
- timelines are separate from the main timeline
- Can have 3D elements applied
- Most important - ActionScript can be applied to a Movie clip
- Graphic symbol
- you can preview an animation inside the symbol by using the controller to play the main timeline
- can contain images, videos, sounds other symbols and shapes
- If you use a stop action on the main timeline, graphics will stop playing as well (not true with movie clips)
- you can set how many times that symbol will loop, whether it will play only once, or whether it should stay on a certain frame.
- Buttons
- Have four different states
- Mouse off
- Mouse over
- Mouse down
- Hit - determines the "hotspot area"
- any type of symbol can be placed inside any state
- Can have actionscript applied
- can have any other symbol property