Course Content
HTML Tutorial
0/6
HTML introduction
HTML Editor
HTML Basics
HTML Elements
HTML Attributes
Assessment 3
HTML Tags
0/55
HTML comment Tag
HTML doctype Declaration
HTML a Tag
HTML abbreviations Tag
HTML acronym Tag
HTML address Tag
HTML applet Tag
HTML area Tag
HTML article Tag
HTML aside Tag
HTML audio Tag
HTML b Tag
HTML Strong Tag
HTML base Tag
HTML basefont Tag
HTML bdi Tag
HTML bdo Tag
HTML big Tag
HTML blockquote Tag
HTML body Tag
HTML br Tag
HTML button Tag
HTML canvas Tag
HTML caption Tag
HTML center Tag
HTML cite Tag
HTML code Tag
HTML col Tag
HTML colgroup Tag
HTML data Tag
HTML datalist Tag
HTML dd Tag
HTML del Tag
HTML details Tag
HTML dfn Tag
HTML dialog Tag
HTML dir Tag
HTML div Tag
HTML dl Tag
HTML dt Tag
HTML em Tag
HTML embed Tag
HTML fieldset Tag
HTML figcaption Tag
HTML figure Tag
HTML font Tag
HTML footer Tag
HTML Form Tag
HTML frame Tag
HTML frameset Tag
HTML h1 to h6 Tags
HTML head Tag
HTML hr Tag
HTML html Tag
HTML i Tag
HTML References
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HTML Doctype References
HTML Global Attributes
HTML Event Attributes
HTML Tutorial: Complete HTML Tutorial
About Lesson

The <applet> Tag

Introduction to Plug-ins

Plug-ins are computer programs that extend the standard functionality of a browser. They have been used for various purposes, including:

  • Running Java Applets: Java applets were small applications embedded in web pages to provide interactive features.
  • Running ActiveX Controls: ActiveX controls allowed additional functionalities like animations and interactivity.
  • Displaying Flash Movies: Flash was widely used for multimedia content, including videos and animations.
  • Displaying Maps: Plug-ins enabled the integration of maps within web pages.
  • Scanning for Viruses: Some plug-ins offered security features like virus scanning.
  • Verifying Bank IDs: Plug-ins were used for secure authentication, such as verifying bank IDs.

The Decline of Plug-ins

Most modern browsers have discontinued support for Java Applets and other plug-ins. Here’s a summary of the changes:

  • Java Applets: No longer supported in most browsers.
  • ActiveX Controls: Discontinued in all browsers.
  • Shockwave Flash: Support has been turned off in modern browsers.

In the early days of web development, the <applet> tag was used to embed Java applets within web pages. These applets were small programs that extended the standard functionality of browsers, allowing them to run Java applications, display Flash movies, maps, scan for viruses, and more.

The Decline of <applet>

As mentioned earlier, with the evolution of web technologies, most modern browsers have discontinued support for Java Applets and other plug-ins like ActiveX controls. The support for Shockwave Flash has also been turned off.

Alternatives to <applet>

Since the <applet> tag is no longer supported in HTML5; developers must look for alternatives to embed various types of media and objects. Here are some options:

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  • Video Embedding: Use the <video> tag.

<video src="movie.mp4" controls></video>
  • Audio Embedding: Use the <audio> tag.
<audio src="audio.mp3" controls></audio>
  • Object Embedding: You can use both the <embed> and <object> tags.
<embed src="document.pdf">
<object data="image.png"></object>

Run the code below:

Loading

More Examples

  • Embed a Document with <embed>:

<embed src="document.pdf" type="application/pdf">
  • Embed a Picture with <embed>:
<embed src="picture.png" type="image/png">
  • Embed a Document with <object>:
<object data="document.pdf" type="application/pdf"></object>
  • Embed a Picture with <object>:
<object data="picture.png" type="image/png"></object>

Conclusion

The <applet> tag represents a piece of web history, reflecting a time when browsers needed external plug-ins to handle multimedia content. Today, HTML5 provides native support for various media types, making the <applet> tag obsolete. Developers should utilize modern tags like <video>, <audio>, <embed>, and <object> to achieve similar functionality without relying on outdated technology.

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