Software that works with web browsers to perform functions such as viewing video and graphic files or editing text.
Software programs that work independently but in connection with each other. These helper application will run independent of each other. (e.g. Netscape and Sparkle)
Programs external to your www browser, which allow extended functionality. For example, if you want to hear sounds on the web, you must configure your web browser to access a helper application, or program, that knows how to play sounds to your desktop computer.
Programs that a Web browser uses to perform tasks such as displaying particular types of graphics, playing sounds, or initiating Telnet sessions.
Most web browsers can do a lot of functions, but not all. Using helper applications, the browser will pass information that it doesn't know how to handle off to an application that does. For example: You may click a link on a web browsers that loads in a QuickTime movie. You're browser doesn't know what to do with that data, but will pass it to a helper application that does, so you can watch the movie.
Also called plug-ins. Extra software required to run some multimedia applications on the Internet (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, QuickTime, etc.)
Applications that assist browsers in dealing with specific types of files found on the Internet, such as graphics and audio files.
are a group of applications that let you access or view a variety of file formats (e.g. pictures, sound, animation). Each computer systems has a different set of helper applications.
Programs used with a Web browser to display, view, or work with files that the browser cannot display. For example, Netscape Navigator can display graphic or image files in GIF or JPEG format. If you accessed an image of another type through a hyperlink, then your browser would need a helper application to display it. As another example, some Web browsers can work with several protocols but not with Telnet. If you activate a hyperlink that begins a Telnet session, a Telnet client that is separate from the Web browser must be used. The Web browser can recognize when it's necessary to use specific helper applications.
A program launched by your browser which allows you use special kinds of files. These applications commonly let you see and hear video and audio files, as well as view specialized text files or virtual reality models. Shockwave, CosmoPlayer, and RealAudio are examples of helper applications. Another common term for these programs is "plug ins," because they supplement the capabilities of your browser, and only run when they are needed to display files.
Helper applications work with browsers to display files from legacy systems such as Gophers and spreadsheets.
Applications configured and subsequently invoked from a Web browser to process a MIME type not recognized by the browser itself.
Netscape displays text and certain graphics by itself. To display other types of information, such as sound and moving images, Netscape needs other programs, or helper applications. A decompression program (StuffIt Expander 4.0.1) is distributed with the UTORnet Connectivity Suite for Macintosh. To tell Netscape which helper application to use for a given file type, select Preferences from the Edit menu. Then select Applications from the Navigator category. For more information on this topic, select The Applications Panel from the Help menu (the Help button is in the Preferences dialog box).
Internet Explorer displays text and certain graphics by itself. To display other types of information, such as sound and moving images, Internet Explorer needs other programs, or helper applications. A decompression program (StuffIt Expander 4.0.1) is distributed with the UTORnet Connectivity Suite for Macintosh. To tell Internet Explorer which helper application to use for a given file type, select Preferences from the Options menu. Then select File Helpers from the Receiving Files heading. (needs more info)
Programs 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 browsers 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.