What is ActiveX?

June 6, 1996

Microsoft Corporation

ActiveX is an open platform that combines desktop and Web technologies. This lets developers and Web producers choose from a wide range of language tools, applications, and reusable parts to build rich interactive applications and Web content more quickly and easily.

ActiveX provides:

• Open, cross-platform support on the Macintosh, Windows, and Unix platforms.
• Support from a wide range of tools, including Microsoft Visual Basic, Macromedia Shockwave, Adobe Photoshop, Borland Delphi, and Java-enabled tools.
• Built-in integration with key industry and de-facto marketplace standards, including HTML, TCP/IP, Java, and COM.

Why is ActiveX important?

ActiveX makes it easier and faster for developers and Web producers to create unique, interactive applications and Web content. Because there are more than 1,000 reusable ActiveX controls already available, Web producers don't have to build all the interactive parts of their Web sites from scratch. And because ActiveX can be used with a wide variety of programming languages, including Java, Borland Delphi, Visual Basic, Visual C++, Borland C++, and others, developers and Webmasters can make use of their current expertise to create compelling content.

What can ActiveX do?

ActiveX can be used for many different types of applications, including small applications delivered over computer networks only when needed. This means ActiveX provides choice, ensures security, is compatible with existing investments, and enables Web producers to target a wide range of Web users. It can also be used to integrate Web sites with corporate systems and Web browsers with other applications software.

ActiveX complements Java

Java programmers can take advantage of ActiveX controls directly from Java programs, and ActiveX provides a bridge to Java so that other programming languages from multiple vendors can use Java applets as reusable components. In this way ActiveX doesn't compete with Java, but instead provides a standard way to extend all programming languages, including Java.

Who supports ActiveX?

Several hundred software makers currently create ActiveX controls, including companies such as Borland, Oracle, and Sybase/Powersoft. In addition, several dozen companies that create Web design and development tools have built ActiveX support into their products, allowing their customers both to create and use ActiveX controls in their programs. Also, Microsoft has enabled Internet Explorer version 3.0 to view Web pages with embedded ActiveX controls and provides an ActiveX plug-in for Netscape Navigator that allows Navigator users to view and make use of ActiveX-enabled Web pages.

If you're a programmer, be sure to visit the ActiveX SDK page.