Helper applications are usually some type of utility that help something else, like a file manager, or Flash, or Adobe Acrobat. These are not really “stand alone†applications because they all work on something else, the file manager to find, sort or view files, Flash to view web animations, or Acrobat to read things created in .pdf, the Portable Document Format.
An application launched by the Web browser to display or process a MIME format that it is incapable of processing. Examples are audio players and video players.
A separate program that Netscape runs when it encounters a data type that it cannot interpret. The helper application will automatically interpret and show the information. A helper application is not a part of Netscape so any embedded objects that require the helper application will be seen in a separate window, not in the body of the text. See also plug-in.
(a.k.a. Viewer) - An additional program that can be launched by a browser to render file types that are stored in a computer language that is unknown to the browser. Many people have a favorite program that they prefer to use to interpret (and often edit) the data that they retrieve through web pages. (See also: Plug-in)
an application launched independently from the browser
an application that is launched upon encountering a given media format, and "helps" enhance browser functionality by launching a specific application to play the specified content
an external program that can handle a specific type of file (e
an external program that displays a file outside your browser window
a particular application such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or the Acrobat Reader, which is automatically launched to display the selected file
a program on your disk designed to read files that are not directly supported by your browser, for example, unusual image formats, movie formats, compressed or zipped applications, and so on
a program residing on the user's hard disk that extends the functionality of a browser
a program that is executed to process the data
a program that is listed in the web browser's Preferences to handle particular files
a program that will either play, display, or decompress your attachment
a regular application that gets automatically launched when the browser receives file that it doesn't know what to do with
a separate application, executable, that is invoked by the Web browser
a separate application program that is invoked by the browser
a separate, free-standing application that can be started from the browser
a separate piece of software that works in tandem with another program
a separate program that is invoked by selected data types
a separate program that your browser calls when it tries to download certain file types
A program launched or used by a browser to process files that the browser cannot handle internally. Thus users have helpers to view JPEG images or play sound files, and also to uncompress compressed files or unstuff archives.
A program that allows you to view multimedia files such as images, audio, and video files that your web browser cannot handle internally.
Application launched by a browser when it receives a file in a format it cannot display itself. Browsers keep a list of which helper application to use with which file format.
This is a secondary application that expands the capabilities of a primary software package. For example, Netscape requires helper applications to perform terminal emulation and to display various specialized file types.
An application that is launched to view files that browsers can't parse.
files or programs that run outside of the browser, enabling you to view different types of files.
An application that adds extra functionality to Web documents. For example, if you download a movie clip and your Web browser is unable to play the file, an audio/video helper application (e.g. 'Real Player') will ask if you want to download its application to view the clip.
An application that another application accesses in order to perform a specific task. Many Web browsers, for instance, use helper applications to play sounds and video clips, decompress downloaded files, or interpret graphic image types. See also Plug-in.
A stand-alone software program that a Browser uses to handle certain incoming files.
A program used with a Web browser to display, view, or work with files that the browser cannot display. For example, graphic or image files in GIF or JPEG format can be displayed by Netscape Navigator. If an image file of another type were accessed through a hyperlink, then a helper application would be necessary to display it. As another example, Web browser s can work with several protocols but not with Telnet, so to activate a hyperlink that begins a Telnet session a Telnet client, separate from the Web browser, has to be used. The Web browser includes ways of being configured to recognize when to use specific helper applications.
This an application your browser uses to manipulate a downloaded program.
A software application that supports another software application. For example, the ecOrderDesk is a helper application ecBuilder.
Your browser uses helper applications to open files after they are downloaded. Any application can be a helper application. Find out more about helper applications.
An application that Tapestry or a browser such as Netscape Navigator 2.0 uses to perform tasks such as displaying particular types of graphics or playing video clips. A helper application follows the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) convention. Contrast with plug-in.
An application invoked by a Web browser for MIME types that the browser cannot handle internally. Also see plug-in.
A program that operates outside the FTP program, but provides a function that enhances the FTP program's operation.
A program allowing you to view multimedia files (images, audio, video) that your web browser cannot handle internally. The file must be downloaded before it will be displayed. There are some plug-ins that allow you to view the file over the Internet without downloading it first. See Also: Browser, Plug-in
An application that is configured to launch and view files that are unreadable to a Web browser.
A program used for viewing multimedia files that your web browser cannot handle internally; files using a helper application must be moved to your computer before being shown or played. Contrast to a plug-in which enables you to view the file over the Internet without first downloading it.
Any application that is used to open or view a file downloaded by the browser. A plug-in is a special kind of helper application that installs itself into the Plugins directory of the main browser installation directory and can typically be opened within the browser itself (internally). Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and other external applications are considered helper applications but not plug-ins, since they don't install themselves into the browser directory, but can be opened from the download dialog box.
A program used by a browser to display or play particular files. In their original incarnations, browsers understood only HTML, GIF and JPEG files.
This term refers to software programs that run along with browser programs enabling them to perform additional functions. Good examples are Shockwave for downloading and viewing moving images and RealAudio for hearing sounds and music online.
Software that assists the browser when audio, video, or large images are requested.
A program allowing you to view multimedia files that your web browser cannot handle internally, such as images, audio and video files. The file must be downloaded before it will be displayed/played. Plug-ins allow you to actually view the file over the Internet without downloading first.
This is an application that adds extra functionality to Web documents. e.g. If you download a movie clip the Web browser is unable to play the file but it can boot up a helper application, in this case it may be 'RealPlayer' (An audio/video player application).
An application that is used to process a file format that the Browser cannot handle. Typically used for multimedia files and animations. Since there is an overhead in calling helper applications, plugs-ins are used for the most commonly used formats. Plug-ins fulfil the same function as helper applications but they are in effect made part of the browser itself. See also Plug-in
A helper application is an external viewer program launched to display content retrieved using a web browser. Some common examples include Windows Media Player and Quick Time for playing streaming content.