what's the difference between ActiveX and COM

What's the difference between ActiveX and COM?

I am really confused.

Please help!

No real difference.

COM is a model that allows a black box approach to compartmentalizing external routines. You cannot know what a server actaully does, you just call a method, get a result.

ActiveX is a name the was applied by Microsoft more for internet application development under Win 95 - but it is still COM.

OLE was the forerunner of COM technology.

OCX, ActiveX dll, or COM servers are all suppliers of COM objects.

DCOM is distributed COM - servers all around the network

thanks so much for your reply.

what is com used for, is it neccessary or am i using it (or them)already without even knowing it., I see in books and tutorials about com all the time.

Is it just used when you create your own Controls??
Thanks:confused: