What is the Difference Between Applet and Application

The main difference between Applet and Application is that the applet is a small java program that can be executed by a Java-compatible web browser while the application is a standalone program that can directly run on the machine. 

An applet is specifically designed to be executed within an HTML document using a Java-enabled web browser.  It is a small program and does not affect the operating system or the hardware. An application is a standalone java program that can be directly run on the machine. It will perform the tasks defined in the program regardless of the computer architecture.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Applet
     – Definition, Functionality
2. What is Application
     – Definition, Functionality
3. What is the Difference Between Applet and Application
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Applet, Application, Java

What is Applet

Applets are small programs that are designed to execute in web browsers to generate dynamic content. They require a Java plugin to run on the client browser. Applets work at the client side with minimum response time. They can be executed by browsers in multiple platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Mac. In an applet, the code is embedded in an HTML page. When there is a java enabled web browser, the applet code transfers to the system and code is executed on the browser.

Figure 1: Applet Program

Applets can be used to perform various tasks. They can be used to display graphics, create animations, play sound, etc. It is possible to add an applet into a web page locally or remotely. A local applet is developed and stored in the local system. A remote applet is developed and stored externally.

What is Application

Applications are standalone Java programs that run on the underlying operating system. It is designed to perform a specific task. They can run with or without the help of a Graphical User Interface (GUI).  These applications can be text processing programs, image processing programs, database programs, etc. 

Figure 2: Java Application

The starting point of a Java application is the main () method.  If the java application is developed in an IDE, it can be executed by pressing the run button. It is also possible to compile the program using the javac command and run it using the java command in the command prompt.  Moreover, Java applications can access data, resources available in the system without any security restrictions.

Difference Between Applet and Application

Definition

An applet is a small application that performs one specific task that runs within the scope of a dedicated widget engine or a larger program, often as a plug-in. An application is a standalone program that is designed to run on a standalone machine to accomplish a task. This is the main difference between Applet and Application.

Program Type

While an applet is a small program, an application is a large program.

Creation

Another difference between applet and application is that an applet is created by extending the java.applet.Applet whereas an application is created by writing the program inside the main method.

Read and Write Operations

Furthermore, an applet cannot read and write files on the local computer. But, an application can perform file reading and writing on the local computer.

Execution

One other difference between Applet and Application is that an applet is executed by any Java-compatible web browser. Whereas, application can be executed using Java Runtime Environment (JRE). It is the combination of JVM, Java class libraries and other files required to run Java applications.

Initialization or Starting Point

Moreover, an applet is initialized through inti() whereas an application is started from main().

Security Restrictions

Security restriction in execution is also a difference between Applet and Application. An applet is executed in a more restricted environment with more security restrictions. They can only access the browser specific services. An application can access data and resources available on the system without any security restrictions.

Conclusion

The difference between Applet and Application is that Applet is a small java program that can be run by a Java-compatible web browser while application is a standalone program that can directly run on the machine. 

Reference:

1. “Java Applet Tutorial – Javatpoint.” Www.javatpoint.com, Available here.
2. “Java Applet Basics.” Www.tutorialspoint.com, Tutorials Point, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Applet Example in arabic” By غاده الأحمري – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Netbeans 8.0” By Pavel Pscheidl – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia