Client-side dynamic behavior using Java applets

We have been able to create client side interactivity using Java scripts for menu rollovers and doing simple calculations. Java scripts are also often used to check input validity, for instance, making sure all fields in a form are filled in and in the proper format.

For more complex interaction on the client, we can download compiled programs. These are typically either Active-X objects or Java applets. Since Active-X works only with Microsoft Internet Explorer, Java applets are more popular.

Here is an example, a Web page with an applet for displaying backbone network links.

As you see, the applet contains a rather complex map drawing program and a database of backbone links. It would be very difficult to write such a program in JavaScript, and, if you could do it, it would execute very slowly. It would also have to retrieve the database from the server.

Here is a page illustrating a Java applet for viewing images.