[Chapter 6] 6.2 A First Applet

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| Chapter 6 Applets |

## 6.2 A First Applet

Figure 6.1 shows what is probably the simplest possible applet you can write in Java. Example 6.1 lists its code. This example introduces the `paint()` method, which is invoked by the applet viewer (or Web browser) when the applet needs to be drawn. This method should perform graphical output--such as drawing text or lines or displaying images--for your applet. The argument to `paint()` is a `Graphics` object that you use to do the drawing.

#### Figure 6.1: A simple applet

#### Example 6.1: The Simplest Applet

    import java.applet.*;   // Don't forget this import statement!
    import java.awt.*;          // Or this one for the graphics!
    public class FirstApplet extends Applet {
      // This method displays the applet.
      // The Graphics class is how you do all drawing in Java.
      public void paint(Graphics g) {
        g.drawString("Hello World", 25, 50);
      }
    }

To display an applet, you need an HTML file that references it. Here is an HTML fragment that can be used with our first applet:

    <APPLET code="FirstApplet.class" width=150 height=100>
    </APPLET>

With an HTML file that references the applet, you can now view the applet with an applet viewer or Web browser. Note that the `width` and `height` attributes of this HTML tag are required. See Chapter 15, Java-Related HTML Tags for more details on the HTML `<APPLET>` tag. For most applet examples in this book, we show only the Java code and not the corresponding HTML file that goes with it. Typically, that HTML file contains a tag as simple as the one shown here.

Introduction to Applets |  | Drawing Graphics