ActiveX Controls
ActiveX Controls are reusable software components based on Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) technology, primarily used to add interactive features and functionality to web pages and desktop applications in Windows environments. They enable embedding objects like multimedia players, forms, or data viewers directly into applications, historically popular in Internet Explorer for dynamic web content. However, they are largely deprecated due to security vulnerabilities and modern web standards.
Developers should learn ActiveX Controls primarily for maintaining or migrating legacy Windows applications, especially in enterprise settings where older systems still rely on them for embedded functionality. It's also relevant for understanding COM-based technologies and historical web development practices, but modern alternatives are strongly recommended for new projects due to security and compatibility issues.