applet
Noun: A small, specialized application written in the Java programming language. It is designed to be executed within a web browser by a Java-compatible plugin. An applet provides interactive features to a web page that are not possible with standard HTML alone.
An "applet" is a type of program that runs inside a web browser. It is downloaded from a web server and executed locally on the client's computer. Its primary use is to create dynamic and interactive web content, such as animations, calculators, or simple games, directly within a webpage.
- The online graphing calculator was implemented as a Java applet.
- Early interactive websites often used applets for features that are now handled by JavaScript.
- For security reasons, modern browsers no longer support the execution of applets.
- "Sandboxed applet": An applet that runs with strict security restrictions, preventing it from accessing the local file system or network resources beyond its origin server.
- The term can be used more generically in some computing contexts to refer to any small, single-purpose application, though this is less common than the specific Java-related meaning.
- Servlet (n): A Java program that runs on a web server, as opposed to an applet which runs on the client's browser.
- Application (n): A broader term for any complete and self-contained program designed for an end-user.
- Mini-application
- Browser plugin (in a specific, historical context)
- Web component (in a general sense)
The use of Java applets on the web has become largely obsolete. They have been replaced by more modern web technologies like HTML5, JavaScript, and WebAssembly due to significant security concerns, performance issues, and lack of support in contemporary browsers. The word "applet" is now most commonly encountered in historical or technical discussions about the evolution of web technology.
- a Java application; an application program that uses the client's web browser to provide a user interface