## JavaHelp System Lightweight Components

Lightweight components can add functionality to help topics. They are similar to Java applets, but load and execute more quickly.

A help author can use a lightweight component that is already implemented in the JavaHelp system. This component implements popup windows and secondary windows. To use this lightweight component in an HTML topic file, you use the HTML `<object>` tag as described in Calling Popup and Secondary Windows From an HTML Topic.

In addition, it is possible to call popup and secondary windows from Java programs and from the TOC and index views of the JavaHelp viewer. For more information on this technique, see Opening Popup and Secondary Windows with the Presentation Manager.

A Java developer can create new lightweight components as well. For example, a such a component might add functionality like animation and multimedia to help topics. The JavaTM 2 Platform includes high quality audio as well as a video viewer that supports the common formats. For more information see Creating Lightweight Components.