Java web start

JavaWeb Start technology is part of the Java Runtime Environment ( JRE) and enables the distribution of Java programs over networks such as the Internet, where the complete application is downloaded and executed locally without any manual intervention by a user. Each time the program is started, the system automatically checks whether a more recent version is available and needs to be loaded.

This functionality belongs to the area of software distribution ( deployment). In order to distribute non-stand-alone Java programs(applets) over the Internet, Java Plug-in can be used.