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Applet
 
 
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An applet is a software component that runs in the context of another program, for example a web browser
Web browser

A Web browser is a application software which enables a user to display and interact with text, images, videos, music, games and other information typically located on a Web page at a website on the World Wide Web or a local area network....
. An applet usually performs a very narrow function that has no independent use. Hence, it is an application -let.

The term was used in AppleScript
AppleScript

AppleScript is a scripting language devised by Apple Inc., and built into Mac OS. More generally, "AppleScript" is the word used to designate the Mac OS scripting interface, which is meant to operate in parallel with the graphical user interface....
 in 1993, but predates that by nearly a decade.

The word applet could alternatively be used to describe a small standalone application, such as those typically bundled with operating systems, for example a calculator program or text editor
Text editor

A text editor is a type of software application used for editing plain text files.Text editors are often provided with operating systems or software development packages, and can be used to change configuration files and programming language source code....
.

pplet is distinguished from "subroutine" by several features:

ke a program
Computer program

Computer programs are Instruction for a computer. A computer requires programs to function. Moreover, a computer program does not run unless its instructions are executed by a Central processing unit; however, a program may communicate an Algorithm#Formalization of algorithms to people without running....
, an applet cannot run independently; an applet features display and graphics and often interacts with the human user.






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An applet is a software component that runs in the context of another program, for example a web browser
Web browser

A Web browser is a application software which enables a user to display and interact with text, images, videos, music, games and other information typically located on a Web page at a website on the World Wide Web or a local area network....
. An applet usually performs a very narrow function that has no independent use. Hence, it is an application -let.

The term was used in AppleScript
AppleScript

AppleScript is a scripting language devised by Apple Inc., and built into Mac OS. More generally, "AppleScript" is the word used to designate the Mac OS scripting interface, which is meant to operate in parallel with the graphical user interface....
 in 1993, but predates that by nearly a decade.

The word applet could alternatively be used to describe a small standalone application, such as those typically bundled with operating systems, for example a calculator program or text editor
Text editor

A text editor is a type of software application used for editing plain text files.Text editors are often provided with operating systems or software development packages, and can be used to change configuration files and programming language source code....
.

Attributes


Applets and routines

An applet is distinguished from "subroutine" by several features:
  • First, it executes only on the "client" platform environment of a system, as contrasted from "servlet". As such, an applet provides functionality or performance beyond the default capabilities of its container (the browser).
  • Also, in contrast with a subroutine, certain capabilities are restricted by the container.
  • An applet is written in a language that is different from the scripting or HTML
    HTML

    HTML, an Acronym and initialism of HyperText Markup Language, is the predominant markup language for Web pages. It provides a means to describe the structure of text-based information in a document?by denoting certain text as links, headings, paragraphs, lists, and so on?and to supplement that text with interactive forms, embedded '...
     language which invokes it. The applet is written in a compiled language, while the scripting language of the container is an interpreted language, hence the greater performance or functionality of the applet. Unlike a "subroutine", a complete web component can be implemented as an applet.


Applets and programs

Unlike a program
Computer program

Computer programs are Instruction for a computer. A computer requires programs to function. Moreover, a computer program does not run unless its instructions are executed by a Central processing unit; however, a program may communicate an Algorithm#Formalization of algorithms to people without running....
, an applet cannot run independently; an applet features display and graphics and often interacts with the human user. However, they are usually stateless and have restricted security privileges. The applet must run in a container
Container (data structure)

In computer science, a container is a Class , a data structure, or an abstract data type whose instances are collections of other objects. They are used to store objects in an organized way following specific access rules....
, which is provided by a host program, through a plugin, or a variety of other applications including mobile devices that support the applet programming model.

Examples


Examples of applets are Java applet
Java applet

A Java applet is an applet delivered to the users in the form of Java bytecode. Java applets can run in a Web browser using a Java Virtual Machine , or in Sun Microsystems's AppletViewer, a stand-alone tool for testing applets....
s and Flash movies
SWF

The file formatSWF a partially open software repository for multimedia and especially for vector graphics, originated with FutureWave Software and has come under the control of Adobe Systems....
. Another example is the Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is a digital media media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing sound reproduction, video and viewing s on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices....
 applet that is used to display embedded video files in Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer

Windows Internet Explorer , commonly abbreviated to IE, is a series of graphical user interface web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems starting in 1995....
 (and other browsers
Web browser

A Web browser is a application software which enables a user to display and interact with text, images, videos, music, games and other information typically located on a Web page at a website on the World Wide Web or a local area network....
 that support the plugin). Some plugins also allow for displaying various 3D model formats in a web browser, via an applet that allows the view of the model to be rotated and zoomed. Many browser game
Browser game

Browser Games are electronic games that are played on web browsers. They are distinct from other console game and personal computer games in that they typically do not require any client side software to be installed, apart from the web browser....
s are applet-based, though some may develop into fully functional applications that require installation.

See also


  • Java applet
    Java applet

    A Java applet is an applet delivered to the users in the form of Java bytecode. Java applets can run in a Web browser using a Java Virtual Machine , or in Sun Microsystems's AppletViewer, a stand-alone tool for testing applets....
  • Widget engine
    Widget engine

    In computer software, a widget engine is a software service available to users for running and displaying desktop widgets on the desktop metaphor....