ActiveX

ActiveX 是一个开放的集成平台，为开发人员、 用户和 Web生产商提供了一个快速而的在 Internet 和 Intranet 创建程序集成和内容的方法。 使用 ActiveX, 可轻松的在 Web页中插入 多媒体效果、 交互式对象、以及复杂程序，创建用户体验相当的高质量多媒体 CD-ROM 。

ActiveX 控件
　　以前称为 OLE 控件或 OCX 控件. 是组件 （或对象） 打包,别人编程功能. 以便您可以重用 Web页或其他程序中插入。 例如, 随 InternetExplorer 一起提供 ActiveX 控件可用于增强 Web页具有复杂格式功能和动画。
　　ActiveX 控件结合了Java 程序和 Netscape 插件优点，还可以用许多编程语言, 包括所有 Microsoft 编程和在数据库语言编写程序中使用 ActiveX 控件。
　　ActiveX 文档
　　用一个 ActiveX - 识别 Web 浏览器如 InternetExplorer, 浏览时 ActiveX 文档使您能够使用自己的工具栏和菜单可打开程序。 这意味着您可以通过使用 ActiveX - 识别 Web 浏览器打开非HTML 文件, 如 MicrosoftExcel 或 MicrosoftWord 文件。
　　ActiveX 脚本
　　ActiveX 脚本支持最常用脚本语言, 包括 Microsoft VisualBasic 脚本和 JavaScript。 ActiveX 脚本可用于集成行为若干 ActiveX 控件或 Java 程序从 Web 浏览器或服务器, 扩展其功能。

is the mechanism by which Internet Explorer (IE) loads other applications in the browser. Through ActiveX, IE loads Windows Media Player, Flash, Quicktime, and other applications that can read files embedded in web pages. ActiveX controls are activated when you click an item such as a .WMV file on a web page to download it for display in your Internet Explorer browser window.

• As a Microsoft product, ActiveX was specifically designed to work with Windows systems. ActiveX is not supported by Microsoft on other operating systems such as Mac or Linux.

Firefox and other browsers that work on multiple operating systems use the (NPAPI) system. NPAPI performs functions similar to those of ActiveX.

Background on ActiveX

ActiveX was designed to make seamless media playback through Internet Explorer easier. When you select media on a web page, Internet Explorer downloads the content and calls the appropriate ActiveX control, as requested by the web page, to load the playback application in the browser, potentially with little or no involvement, by you.

• Because this system is capable of automatically downloading new ActiveX controls without your involvement, it has been exploited by spyware, viruses, and other malicious software. Internet Explorer has improved ActiveX security in a number of ways, and many of the security loopholes have been closed in IE 7. However, it is still relatively easy to download and activate a malicious ActiveX control on your computer.

An ActiveX control is the equivalent of an NPAPI plugin. However, ActiveX and plugin technology have differences. While the potential effects of malicious content are similar, plugins inherently have better security features. Plugins have less control over the web page in which they are embedded and cannot be used in applications other than a web browser. ActiveX has broader use across a greater number of applications.