In a non-Java Web browser, the downloaded content is defined in terms of Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) specifications, which include a variety of multimedia document formats. The browser need to employ a helper application such as in displaying images, sound, and video to display the content.
In a Java-enabled browser the same pattern is followed, but one more crucial step is added. First, the Java-enabled browser, following requests by the user, downloads content defined by MIME specifications and displays it. However, a Java-enabled browser recognizes a special hypertext tag called APPLET which is a special kind of java program. The browser then downloads another file of information, as named in an attribute of the APPLET tag, that describes the execution of that applet which is called bytecode. The Java-enabled browser interprets these bytecodes and runs them as an executable program on the user’s host. The resulting execution on the user’s host then drives the animation, interaction, or further communication. This execution of content on the user’s host is what sets Java content apart from the hypertext and other multimedia content of the Web. The downloading and start of the execution of content happens automatically. The user does not specifically have to request this content or start its execution, this executable content is platform-independent, Java programmers need not create separate versions of the applets for different computer platforms, as long as the user has a Java interpreter (or Java-enabled browser) installed on his or her computer.  | 
06-20-2007, 04:47 AM
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