4 ms·

just to be sure... what is the difference (featurity-wise) between the '90s browser plugins and the 201X's extensions?

• csixty4 11y ago
  Browser plugins are/were native code. Today's browser extensions are JavaScript run in the context of a web page, and which declare the permissions they need to run.
  • _ZeD_ 11y ago
    I know the "tecnicism" (hell, I have written a pair of plugins and a pair of firefox extensions). But from the "features" point of view, is there something I can do sorely with a plugin? (I think about direct filesystem access or the likes)
    • csixty4 11y ago
      I think it's more about safety, what extensions can't do. If native code escapes the sandbox, game over. If JavaScript runs amok, it's a lot harder for it to do anything dangerous. Browser vendors have learned a lot from all those Flash vulnerabilities.