ActiveX designers use the following features already defined for COM, Automation, and ActiveX controls:
| Feature | Technology |
| Properties | Automation, property notifications, property pages, connectable objects |
| Events | Events, Automation, connectable objects |
| Visual representation | Compound documents |
| Persistence | Structured storage (plus extensions) |
| Design-time layout | Compound documents, drag and drop |
| Container event handlers | Events, Automation |
| Container extended objects | ActiveX controls, property pages |
| Container keyboard | ActiveX controls |