Microsoft KB Archive/154458

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

Features of Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0
Last reviewed: January 14, 1997

Article ID: Q154458

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0 for Windows 95

SUMMARY
This article describes the features of Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0.

MORE INFORMATION
Internet Explorer 3.0 is the latest version of Microsoft's Web browser. It enables you to view content created with Java, JavaScript, Netscape Plug- ins, and HTML extensions as well as content created with ActiveX technologies and HTML 3.2 extensions.

ActiveX Controls
With ActiveX, developers can build Internet programs by writing ActiveX controls that users can download from the Internet and run in Internet Explorer 3.0.

ActiveX Documents
Users can open richly formatted documents, such as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, directly in the browser. They can use the program to view and edit the data directly.

ActiveX Script
With native support for Visual Basic Script and JavaScript, Internet Explorer can also be extended to support additional scripting languages such as REXX, CGI, and PERL. Web page designers can plug any scripting language into their HTML code to create interactive pages that link together ActiveX controls, Java programs, and other software components.

Java Programs
Internet Explorer 3.0 includes Java Virtual Machine, which includes the Microsoft Just-In-Time Java compiler. Additionally, Java program classes are exposed as ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer 3.0, allowing Java programs to talk to other Java programs, ActiveX controls, and operating system features such as multimedia audio and video elements.

HTML Enhancements
Internet Explorer 3.0 provides support for HTML 3.2. This support includes support for borderless and floating frames, style sheets, and tables.

Integrated Multimedia Support
Internet Explorer 3.0 provides playback of popular video and audio formats on the Internet. Support is enabled for efficient playback of MPEG audio and video, .avi files, and QuickTime, AU, .wav, MIDI, and AIFF formats.

Secure Conversation and Commerce
Internet Explorer 3.0 supports the safe downloading of code and controls, providing "shrink wrap" for the Internet. With support for SSL2/3, PCT 1.0, and client and server authentication, Internet Explorer 3.0 provides the widest set of technologies for keeping conversations private.

Customizable Home Page and Administration Kit
Internet Explorer 3.0 offers a range of ways to customize Internet viewing, including custom organization of the toolbar, a favorites folder, and the home page. For example, you can set your home page to download favorite stock quotes, news, movie times, and more so that the information you want is available the moment you log on.

Content Advisor
Microsoft and the Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC) joined efforts to build technology to advance parental control over Internet access and content. Together, RSAC's rating system adapted for the Internet (RSACi) and the Microsoft Content Advisor feature make it possible for parents and others to set access to Web sites based on industry-standard ratings of their content. Microsoft and RSAC worked with industry leaders to develop a solution based on the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C's) Platform for Internet Content Selection. For more information about available parental control software solutions, visit:

http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ie3/ratings/ You can obtain Internet Explorer 3.0 from:

http://www.microsoft.com/ie/