Description of Java Support for Internet Explorer

• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0 for Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article describes Java Support for Internet Explorer.

MORE INFORMATION

With Java Support for Internet Explorer, Microsoft provides an initial Java implementation that supports running Java programs in Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0. It includes a Java virtual machine (VM), a byte code translator, and a byte code verifier.

In addition to running Java programs, Java Support for Internet Explorer enables Java programs to work with ActiveX controls. Developers can integrate the functionality of ActiveX controls with Java programs in Internet Explorer. For example, a Java program can enter data into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, perform computations, and print the spreadsheet. Internet Explorer also supports Unicode, so Java programs can use any language--even those that require special DBCS (Double-Byte Character Set) processing.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) uses the <APPLET> tag to load a Java program. The Java program is loaded into a Java virtual machine (VM), verified by the VM, and then run by the VM. In addition, the VM handles "sandboxing," memory management, and the management of other system resources.

For additional information about sandboxing and how Internet Explorer handles Java security issues, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE_ID: Q154559
   TITLE     : Java Security Issues Addressed in Internet Explorer 3.0

Features of Java Support for Internet Explorer

Java Support for Internet Explorer includes the following features:

• You can view a wide set of Java programs reliably.
• Provides the Win32 reference implementation for the Sun Microsystems virtual machine.
• Enables content developers to script Java programs with other Java programs and ActiveX controls, using the scripting language of their choice.
• Provides built-in Java security. A primary concern for all levels of users is that a browser provides standard security schemes such as code-signing for trusted code in addition to the Java sandbox security scheme.
• The Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler provides tool vendors with rich debugging support.
• The Microsoft Just-In-Time Java compiler provides a fast way to run Java programs.