Chapter: Java The Complete Reference : The Java Library : The Applet Class

Two Types of Applets

It is important to state at the outset that there are two varieties of applets based on Applet.

Two Types of Applets

It is important to state at the outset that there are two varieties of applets based on Applet. The first are those based directly on the Applet class described in this chapter. These applets use the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) to provide the graphical user interface (or use no GUI at all). This style of applet has been available since Java was first created.

The second type of applets are those based on the Swing class JApplet, which inherits Applet. Swing applets use the Swing classes to provide the GUI. Swing offers a richer and often easier-to-use user interface than does the AWT. Thus, Swing-based applets are now the most popular. However, traditional AWT-based applets are still used, especially when only a very simple user interface is required. Thus, both AWT- and Swing-based applets are valid.

This chapter describes AWT-based applets. However, because JApplet inherits Applet, all the features of Applet are also available in JApplet, and much of the information in this chapter applies to both types of applets. Therefore, even if you are interested in only Swing applets, the information in this chapter is still relevant and necessary. Understand, however, that when creating Swing-based applets, some additional constraints apply and these are described later in this book, when Swing is covered.

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Java The Complete Reference : The Java Library : The Applet Class : Two Types of Applets |