ACTIVEX CONTROL Meaning and
Definition
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An ActiveX control is a type of software component that enables interactive functionality on websites and applications. It is a reusable component that can be embedded within a web page or within other software programs to extend their capabilities.
Specifically designed for the Microsoft Windows operating system, an ActiveX control serves as a building block for creating dynamic and interactive content. It is based on the Component Object Model (COM) technology, which allows different software components to communicate with each other.
ActiveX controls offer a wide range of functionality, such as multimedia playback, data acquisition, web-based forms, and user interface enhancements. They can be developed using programming languages like C++, Visual Basic, or .NET, and are typically distributed as binary files with the extension ".ocx".
To use an ActiveX control, it must first be installed on the user's computer. Once installed, the control can be loaded and utilized through a web browser or from within other software applications. However, due to security concerns, modern web browsers have restrictions and may require explicit user consent before allowing the use of ActiveX controls.
ActiveX controls have been widely utilized in the past for creating complex web applications and interactive content. However, they have become less popular over time due to security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues with non-Windows platforms. Consequently, many developers have shifted towards using alternative technologies like HTML5, JavaScript, and web APIs for achieving similar functionalities without relying on ActiveX controls.
Etymology of ACTIVEX CONTROL
The word "ActiveX" is a combination of two terms - "Active" and "X".
The term "Active" refers to Microsoft's Active Technology, which is a set of technologies introduced by Microsoft in the 1990s. Active Technology was designed to enable interactive content and dynamic functionality on the Windows platform.
The "X" in ActiveX represents the component object model (COM) technology. COM is a binary-interface standard introduced by Microsoft that allows software components to interact with each other. It provides a framework for creating and using reusable software components called "COM objects". ActiveX controls are essentially COM objects that can be embedded and executed within software applications.
Therefore, "ActiveX control" combines the "Active" technology with the concept of "X" representing COM objects, indicating that it is a dynamic, interactive software component that can be embedded in applications using the COM framework.
