A recent survey of more than 4,000 app developers, conducted by Kendo UI, indicates HTML5 adoption is certainly on the rise.

The study, reported by The Next Web, focused on developer usage, attitudes and expectations surrounding HTML5 and use in mobile development.

Kendo UI is a division of Telerik specializing in end-to-end solutions for app development.

Despite continuing controversy over its use, specifically around its ability to compete against native app development and potential fragmentation of Web standards, the survey indicates that the HTML5 adoption and usage is rising for both mobile and desktop apps.

HTML5 adoption is happening much faster than expected. Some 51 percent of the respondents stated that HTML5 was important to their job immediately, while 31 percent indicated that it would become important within the next 12 months.

The key factor driving this growth is familiarity. Seventy-two percent of all respondents cited familiarity as the reason for its use, while 62 percent suggested it was for reach and cross-platform support.

Furthermore, the survey shows that nearly 73 percent of developers were unaffected by Facebook’s decision to not support the language. In addition, 52 percent of the respondents indicated that they were unaware of their company using HTML5 to build an iOS application.

Meanwhile, browser fragmentation is also a concern for majority of developers. The Next Web reporter Ken Yeung wrote, “Native apps don’t have to worry about fragmentation because they’re built specifically for the device. Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect situation either because the downside is that the app needs to be developed for every device.”

Although HTML5 supports mobile, tablets and desktop versions, developers like to make sure it works on Safari, Chrome, FireFox, Internet Explorer and all the major browsers.

According to Tood Anglin, Telerik’s vice president of HTML5 Web and Mobile Tools, “The survey underscores developer recognition of the need for a platform that can be used to develop software for a future dominated by no single operating system or computing form factor.”