Applications and Applets.

Applets and Applications
Java is an object oriented language and it has all the features of an Object Oriented Programming Language, encapsulation, inheritance, etc. Java is loosley based around the C++ language and has most of the features that C++ supports and is structured in the same fasion as C++ is.

There are two sorts of Java "programs", Applications and Applets.

• Applications
  Applications are standalone programs, run via an application that comes as part of the Java Development Kit. These Applications are not run via a web browser. Also applications, as they can only be run on a host computer, don't suffer the same security restrictions as applets.

• Applets
  Applets aren't stand alone programs they are run within web browsers and interface with the Java Virtual Machines built into the browsers. Applets can also be run via the diagnostic tools supplied with the Java Development Kit. Applets suffer a number of security restrictions as they are downloadable via the Internet, these "hobbles" mainly relate to file access and the like. However the "hobbles" can be evaded by signing ones Java applets in same way you would sign a .cab file thereby marking the applet safe for downloading.
  Applets can also be scripted, Java and VB scripts can be written to automate Java applets in the same way ActiveX controls can be scripted. This process is a little harder to implement than with ActiveX componets but just as reliable and usable.