Applications, applets, and servlets
Figure 1-2 describes the three types of programs that you can create with
Java. First, you can use Java to create applications. This figure shows an application
that uses a graphical user interface, or GUI, to get user input and per-form
a calculation. In this book, you'll be introduced to a variety of applications
with the emphasis on GUI applications that get data from files and databases.
One of the unique characteristics of Java is that you can use it to create a
special type of web-based application known as an applet. For instance, this
figure shows an applet that works the same way as the application above it. The
main difference between an application and an applet is that an applet can be
stored in an HTML page and can run inside a Java-enabled browser. As a result,
you can distribute applets via the Internet or an intranet. After you master the
basics of building GUI applications, chapter 15 shows you how to create
applets.
The Enterprise Edition of the Java 2 Platform can be used to create a special
type of server-side application known as a servlet. Servlets can access enterprise
databases and make that data available via the web. Since servlets are an
advanced subject, they aren't presented in this book.
Figure 1-2 Applications, applets, and servlets
An application
An applet
Description
- An application is a program that runs in a window. The application shown above uses a graphical user interface, or GUI, to get input and display output.
- An applet is a special type of program that runs within a web browser after it has been retrieved from the Internet or an intranet. You'll learn how to create applets in chapter 15.
- A servlet is a special type of program that does server-side processing.
New on the Java Boutique:
New Review:
Time Management Made Easy with the Quartz Enterprise Job Scheduler
Why not just use the Java timer API? This open source scheduling
API boasts simplicity, ease-of-integration, a well-rounded feature
set, and it's free!
New Applet:
Reverse Complement
Reverse Complement is a simple applet that converts DNA or RNA
sequences into three useful formats.
Elsewhere on internet.com:
WebDeveloper Java
Lots of Java information on webdeveloper.com
WDVL Java
Thorough Java resource at the Web Developer's Virtual Library.
ScriptSearch Java
Hundreds of free Java code files to download.
jGuru: Your View of the Java Universe
Customizable portal with online training, FAQs, regular news updates, and tutorials.
