ActiveX facts for kids
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| Original author(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
| Initial release | 1996 |
| Last release |
2013
|
| Written in | C, C++ |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, Solaris, Classic Mac OS, macOS |
| Platform | x86 |
| Included with | Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Studio, and Windows Media Player etc. |
| Predecessor | OLE 2.0 and COM |
| Type | Software framework |
ActiveX was a special way for computer programs to work together. It was created by Microsoft in 1996. Think of it like a set of rules that allowed different parts of software to connect and share information.
ActiveX was especially used for content downloaded from the internet, like on websites. While it was designed to work on different computer systems, most ActiveX programs really only worked on Microsoft Windows computers. This is because they contained special code made for Windows.
Today, ActiveX is not used much anymore. However, you can still find it in a special "Internet Explorer mode" within the Microsoft Edge web browser.
Contents
What are ActiveX Controls?
ActiveX controls were like small, reusable building blocks for software. Imagine them as tiny programs that could be added to bigger programs. This made it easier for developers to create new features.
Many Microsoft Windows programs used these controls. For example, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, and Windows Media Player used ActiveX controls. They helped these programs do different tasks. Internet Explorer also allowed websites to use ActiveX controls. This meant websites could have more interactive features.
A Brief History of ActiveX
ActiveX was created to make an older Microsoft technology, called OLE 2.0, simpler. In 1996, Microsoft renamed it ActiveX. Even with the changes, it was still a bit tricky for programmers to use. So, Microsoft made special tools to help them.
Starting with Internet Explorer 3.0 in 1996, Microsoft added a way for websites to use ActiveX controls. If a website had an ActiveX control, Internet Explorer could automatically download and install it. This made websites more exciting.
However, this also caused some problems.
- First, these controls mostly worked only on Windows computers.
- Second, there were security risks. Because the controls could install automatically, they could sometimes bring harmful software.
To make things safer, Microsoft added new security features.
- They started using "digital signatures." This was like a special stamp that showed who made the software.
- Controls had to say they were "safe for scripting."
- Internet Explorer also kept a list of bad controls to block them.
ActiveX was a bit controversial. Microsoft said it was easy to use and performed well. But others worried about the security risks and that it didn't work on all types of computers. The security mostly relied on trusting the developer who made the control. If there was a mistake in the code, it could create a security problem.
Where Could ActiveX Be Used?
Even though Microsoft tried to make ActiveX work on different computer systems, it mostly stayed on Windows. This was because the controls were often written in programming languages like C or C++. They were then made into code that only Windows computers could understand.
Because of this, using ActiveX controls on a website meant that the website might not work well for people using other types of computers. For example, around 2015, the government of South Korea started removing ActiveX from their public websites. They wanted their websites to be available to more people on different devices.
Microsoft stopped supporting ActiveX in the main version of Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 8. In 2015, Microsoft released Microsoft Edge, which replaced Internet Explorer. Microsoft Edge did not support ActiveX. This marked the end of ActiveX in Microsoft's main web browser. However, the newer Microsoft Edge browser still has an "Internet Explorer mode" that can use ActiveX.
ActiveX in Other Programs
While ActiveX was mostly known for Internet Explorer, some other web browsers also tried to use it. For example, there was a "Mozilla ActiveX Control" for Firefox. Also, some extensions for Google Chrome could help run ActiveX controls by making Chrome act like an Internet Explorer tab.
Other Technologies Using ActiveX
ActiveX was a base for many other Microsoft technologies. Some of these are still used today.
- Active Scripting: This technology helps different scripting languages (like JScript or VBScript) work with programs like Internet Explorer or Active Server Pages.
- ActiveX Document: This allowed users to view and edit documents (like Microsoft Word or Excel files) right inside their web browser.
- Active Server Pages (ASP): This was a technology used to create dynamic websites.
- ActiveX Data Objects (ADO): This helped programs connect to and work with databases.
See also
In Spanish: ActiveX para niños
- Active Template Library (ATL)
- Browser Helper Object (BHO)
- JavaBeans
- Netscape Plugin Application Programming Interface (NPAPI)
