Java Applets are small Java programs embedded in web pages and run on the client-side in a secure, sandboxed environment, making them more secure than traditional web applications.
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How Java Applets work
Java Applets are executed by the JVM in a web browser. When a user visits a web page containing this, the browser downloads and executes the applet’s class files in a separate thread, allowing it to interact with the web page and the user’s computer.
import java.applet.Applet;
import java.awt.*;
public class MyFirstApplet extends Applet {
public void paint(Graphics g) {
g.drawString("Hello, World!", 50, 50);
}
}
To embed this applet in an HTML page, we can use the following code:
<applet code="MyFirstApplet.class" width="200" height="200"></applet>
Advantages of Java Applets
- Platform independence
- Secure sandboxed environment
- Rich user interface
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Good for embedding small applications in web pages
Disadvantages of Java Applets
- Slow startup time
- Plugin dependency
- Limited functionality
- No longer supported
- Vulnerability to security threats
Use Cases for Java Applets
- Embedding small applications in web pages
- Providing a rich user interface for sandboxed applications
- Cross-platform compatibility
Conclusion
Java Applets were once popular for embedding small applications in web pages, their use has declined due to security concerns. There are still some use cases for Java Applets, but other technologies such as HTML5 and JavaScript, React and Angular, and Electron are now more commonly used for similar purposes.
