Applets

/ˈæplɪts/ noun

Definition

Small software applications designed to perform specific limited functions, typically running within larger programs or web browsers.

Etymology

Coined in the 1990s by combining 'application' with the diminutive suffix '-let.' The term was popularized by Java programming language to describe small programs that could run in web browsers.

Kelly Says

Applets were the original vision of interactive web content, predating modern web apps by decades. Though the original Java applet technology largely failed due to security issues, the concept lives on in everything from browser extensions to mobile app widgets.

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