Documentation Contents

# Using `applet`, `object` and `embed` Tags

Java Rich Internet Applications Guide > Applet Developer's Guide > Using `applet`, `object`, and `embed` Tags

This sections explains how to add Java applets to Web pages with the `applet`, `object`, and `embed` tag. In addition, this section provides guidelines for deploying applets on the Internet and on intranets, and for use with different browsers.

The following topics are covered:

- General Considerations
- Using the `applet` tag
- Using the `object` tag
- Using the `embed` tag
- Deploying Applets in a Mixed-Browser Environment

## General Considerations

How you deploy an applet depends on whether users access the Web page through the Internet or an Intranet, and the type of browser they use. Note this information about your users, then follow the general guidelines below.

### Deploying Applets on the Internet Versus an Intranet

When deploying applets:

- Use the `applet` tag if the Web page is accessed through the Internet.

- Use the `object` or `embed` tag if the Web page is accessed through an intranet.

### Deploying Applets for Specific Browsers

When deploying applets:

- For Internet Explorer only, use the `object` tag.

- For the Mozilla family of browsers only, use the `embed` tag.

If you must deploy an applet in a mixed-browser environment, follow the guidelines in the section Deploying Applets in a Mixed-Browser Environment.

## Using the `applet` tag

You use the applet tag to deploy applets to a multi-browser environment.

For complete details on the `applet` tag, see the following:

- Deploying With the Applet Tag
- HTML 4.01 Specification

Note: The HTML specification states that the `applet` tag is deprecated, and that you should use the `object` tag instead. However, the specification is vague about how browsers should implement the `object` tag to support Java applets, and browser support is currently inconsistent. Oracle therefore recommends that you continue to use the `applet` tag as a consistent way to deploy Java applets across browsers on all platforms.

The following is the syntax for the `applet` tag. Required attributes are in bold. Optional attributes are in regular typeface. Values you specify are in italics:

        <applet
            codebase = codebaseURL
            archive = archiveList
            code = appletFile ...or...  object = serializedApplet
            alt = alternateText
            name = appletInstanceName
            width = pixels
            height = pixels
            align = alignment
            vspace = pixels
            hspace = pixels
            legacy_lifecycle = boolean
        >
        <param name = appletAttribute1 value = value1>
        <param name = appletAttribute2 value = value2>
        ...
        alternateHTML
        </applet>

`code`, `codebase`, and so on are attributes of the applet tag; they give the browser information about the applet. The only mandatory attributes are `code`, `width`, and `height`. Each attribute is described below.

`codebase = codebaseURL`
  This optional attribute specifies the base URL of the applet: the directory that contains the applet's code. If this attribute is not specified, then the document's URL is used.
`archive = archiveList`
  This optional attribute describes one or more archives containing classes and other resources that will be "preloaded". The classes are loaded using an instance of `AppletClassLoader` with the given `codebase`.
  The archives in `archiveList` are separated by commas (`,`) Note: in JDK 1.1, multiple `applet` tags with the same `codebase` share the same instance of a `ClassLoader`. This is used by some client code to implement inter-applet communication. Future JDKs may provide other mechanisms for inter-applet communication. For security reasons, the applet's class loader can read only from the same codebase from which the applet was started. This means that archives in archiveList must be in the same directory as, or in a subdirectory of, the codebase. Entries in archiveList of the form `../a/b.jar` will not work unless explicitly allowed for in the security policy file (except in the case of an HTTP codebase, where archives in archiveList must be from the same host as the codebase, but can have the symbol for parent directory (`..`) in their paths.)
`code = appletFile`
  This required attribute gives the name of the file that contains the applet's compiled `Applet` subclass. This file is relative to the base URL of the applet. It cannot be absolute. One of `code` or `object` must be present. The value `appletFile` can be of the form `classname.class` or of the form `packagename.classname.class`.
`object = serializedApplet`
  This attribute gives the name of the file that contains a serialized representation of an applet. The applet will be deserialized. The `init()` method will not be invoked but its `start()` method will. Attributes valid when the original object was serialized are not restored. Any attributes passed to this `applet` instance will be available to the applet; we advocate very strong restraint in using this feature. An applet should be stopped before it is serialized. One of `code` or `object` must be present.
`alt = alternateText`
  This optional attribute specifies any text that should be displayed if the browser understands the `applet` tag but can't run Java applets.
`name = appletInstanceName`
  This optional attribute specifies a name for the applet instance, which makes it possible for applets on the same page to find (and communicate with) each other.
`width = pixels`
`height = pixels`
  These required attributes give the initial width and height (in pixels) of the applet display area, not counting any windows or dialogs that the applet brings up.
`align = alignment`
  This optional attribute specifies the alignment of the applet. The possible values of this attribute are the same as those for the `img` tag: `left`, `right`, `top`, `texttop`, `middle`, `absmiddle`, `baseline`, `bottom`, and `absbottom`.
`vspace = pixels
hspace = pixels`
  These optional attributes specify the number of pixels above and below the applet (`vspace`) and on each side of the applet (`hspace`). They're treated the same way as the `img` tag's `vspace` and `hspace` attributes.
`legacy_lifecycle = boolean`
  If this optional attribute is set to `true`, a running applet is not destroyed when the user navigates away from a page. Furthermore, when the user navigates back to the page, the running applet is resumed unless the following occurs:
  - The browser reissues the request for the applet definition.
  - The response to this request produces an applet definition that differs from the applet definition that was returned by the original request.
`<param name = appletAttribute1 value = value1>
<param name = appletAttribute2 value = value2> ...`
  This tag is the only way to specify an applet-specific attribute. Applets access their attributes with the `getParameter()` method.

## Using the `object` tag

You use the `object` tag to deploy applets that are to be used only with Internet Explorer. For complete details on the `object` tag, read the W3 HTML specification. Following is an example of the `object` tag:

    <OBJECT
      classid="clsid:8AD9C840-044E-11D1-B3E9-00805F499D93"
      width="200" height="200">
      <PARAM name="code" value="Applet1.class">
    </OBJECT>

### The classid Attribute

The `classid` attribute identifies which minimum version of Java Plug-in to use.

The example shown below is the most commonly used form of the `classid` attribute. This example instructs Internet Explorer to use the highest installed version of Java Plug-in.

    classid="clsid:8AD9C840-044E-11D1-B3E9-00805F499D93"

Following is an alternative form of the `classid` attribute:

    classid="clsid:CAFEEFAC-xxxx-yyyy-zzzz-ABCDEFFEDCBA"

In this form, "xxxx", "yyyy", and "zzzz" are four-digit numbers that identify the minimum version of Java Plug-in to be used. For example, to use Java Plug-in version `1.8`, you specify:

    classid="clsid:CAFEEFAC-0018-0000-0000-ABCDEFFEDCBA"

See Deploying Java Applets With Family JRE Versions in Java Plug-in for Internet Explorer for more information about the `classid` attribute.

### The codebase Attribute

You use the optional `codebase` attribute to specify if and how to download the JRE. With the `codebase=<URL>` form, if the JRE specified by the `classid` attribute is not installed locally, then the user is prompted to download the JRE from the URL specified.

## Using the `embed` tag

You use the `embed` tag to deploy applets that are to be used only with the Mozilla family of browsers.

Following is an example of the `embed` tag:

    <embed code="Applet1.class"
      width="200" height="200"
      type="application/x-java-applet;version=1.8"
      pluginspage="http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/ea-jsp-142245.html"/>

The type attribute can have one of two forms:

- `type="application/x-java-applet;version=1.8"`
  With this form, the highest installed JRE that supports the MIME type i.e. `application/x-java-applet;version=1.8` is invoked to run the applet. If a JRE with a version number equal to or greater than the version number specified is installed locally, then that JRE is invoked. Otherwise the user is directed to the URL specified as the value of the `pluginspage` attribute.

- `type="application/x-java-applet;jpi-version=1.8.0_181`
  With this form, a JRE with at least the specified update version given by the value of `jpi-version` (in this example, 1.8.0_181) is invoked to run the applet. Otherwise the user is directed to the URL specified as the value of the `pluginspage` attribute.

## Deploying Applets in a Mixed-Browser Environment

You can deploy applets for users of both Internet Explorer and the Mozilla family of browsers in one of two ways:

- Using pure HTML

- Using JavaScript

### Deploying Applets Using Pure HTML

When using a pure HTML approach to deploy applets in a mixed-browser environment, note the following:

- Internet Explorer

  - Recognizes the `object` tag
  - Ignores the contents of the `comment` tag
- Mozilla browsers
  - Ignore an `object` tag with the `classid` attribute
  - Interpret the contents of the `comment` tag

Consider the following example code from an HTML page:

    <object
      classid="clsid:8AD9C840-044E-11D1-B3E9-00805F499D93"
      <param name="code" value="Applet1.class">
        <comment>
          <embed code="Applet1.class"
            type="application/x-java-applet;version=1.8">
            <noembed>
              No Java Support.
            </noembed>
          </embed>
        </comment>
      </object>

### Deploying Applets Using JavaScript

Instead of using the pure HTML approach described above, you can use JavaScript to deploy applets in a mixed-browser environment.

Through JavaScript, you:

1. Detect the user's browser through the `appName` variable.

2. Use the `document.write()` method to write a tag based on the value of the `appName` variable:

1. If the browser name equals "Mozilla", write the `embed` tag.

2. If the browser name equals "Microsoft Internet Explorer", write the `object` tag.

In the following example, the `document.write()` method outputs either an `embed` or `object` tag for each user “on the fly”:

    <html>
    <script language="Javascript">

      var _app = navigator.appName;

      if (_app == 'Mozilla') {
        document.write('<embed code="Applet1.class"',
                       'width="200"',
                       'height="200"',
                       'type="application/x-java-applet;version=1.8.0">');
        }
      else if (_app == 'Microsoft Internet Explorer') {
        document.write('<OBJECT ',
                       'classid="clsid:8AD9C840-044E-11D1-B3E9-00805F499D93"',
                       'width="200"',
                       'height="200">',
                       '<PARAM name="code" value="Applet1.class">',
                       '</OBJECT>');
        }
      else {
        document.write('<p>Sorry, unsupported browser.</p>');
        }

    </script>
    </html>

Copyright © 1993, 2026, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Contact Us