How does IExplorer run Java if it doesn't support NPAPI?

Factual Questions
1

Today I learned I have to do some configuring to make Chrome allow Java apps to run, because Chrome has made a thing called NPAPI not work by default. I can turn it on, and run Java. However, I read that starting in September, I won’t even be able to do that.

At this article describing what’s going on (Chrome starts pushing Java off the Web by disabling plugins | Ars Technica), a mysterious comment is made at the end that Internet Explorer hasn’t supported NPAPI since version 5.5! Yet it remains able to run Java.

So apparently you don’t need to support NPAPI to run Java. So then, what’s the big deal? Can Chrome (or some clever extension maker) not simply support Java by some means other than NPAPI? Or can Java not do something here to make itself runnable sans NPAPI?

2

Are Java apps still used??? :open_mouth:

3

NPAPI is the Netscape Plugin Application Programming Interface. It CAN be used to implement Java support, but it is not REQUIRED for Java support. Most browsers do use it, but at usual Microsoft decided to go its own way with IE.

4

A lot of enterprise software still uses Java web apps.

5

Java running on Internet Explorer uses an ActiveX control. Note that when Internet Explorer gets replaced by Edge, ActiveX won’t be supported either.