An applet is a small piece of software code, which runs in the web browser. It is developed to perform a very specific function. An applet cannot run independently; it proves to be useful only when it is used with some other applications such as HTML, DHTML etc. Applets are written in Java language and they can be embedded within the HTML page. To execute the applet web browsers use a virtual engine known as Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Applets should not be confused with general programs written in different programming languages.
They are different from the programs. The major difference between the two is that unlike the applets, the programs can run independently. An applet is written in a different language. It is used with the HTML documents and other programs but is not written in HTML or any other language. HTML only provides static web pages and with the help of scripting it can be enhanced a little more. But this does not result in the state of the art web sites, which we see today. The web pages have changed a lot since their evolution. Everyday the Internet users are expecting the websites to give them more interactive features and options. The use of websites is now far more than just e-mailing and reading information on them. A lot of multimedia components such as streaming video, audio, dynamic pages, sounds, slideshows, smileys etc are used to make the web pages more useful and captivating. These multimedia components are invoked with the help of applets. For example, java applets, flash movies, fireworks, shockwave, windows media player applets etc. are used to embed a variety of real time animations and videos that are rich in colors and sound effects in the web pages. Applets are helping professionals in different fields. Applets can be used for creating 3D simulations of an object. They make it possible to give a 360o view to the end users which helps them to understand the product features more efficiently by rotating and zooming in or out. Not only the programs, but most of the online games are also using applets to increase its performance.
Some more advantages of the applets are:
- As the applets run independent of the platform, thy can be used on different operating systems such as Windows, Unix, Linux and Mac OS.
- Applets are supported by a number of different web browsers like Microsoft Internet Explorer, Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Netscape Navigator etc.
- Applets shift the work load from server to the client. Thus they are helpful in increasing the performance and scalability of the web servers.
Applets have changed the whole look and end user’s perception about the Internet. They have become inseparable elements of web surfing now a days. The only major issue with the applets is that they need Java plug-ins and Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to operate. Applet cannot work without JVM, and JVM itself takes time when started for the first time. Companies are considering these issues and are trying to improve and reduce the latency time of JVMs. In the near future, the applets will extend the dimensions of entertainment on the web.