How do ActiveX Controls, OLE Controls, and COM Objects relate?
An ActiveX control is an OLE control that is intended to be used inside a web browser. Likely an ActiveX control is marked Safe for Scripting and Safe for Initialization as well as being packaged to be installed via Authenticode. More information on the difference between OLE and ActiveX controls is available here. All ActiveX / OLE controls are COM objects, but not vice versa. ActiveX / OLE controls are built on COM and implement a required minimum set of interfaces in order to operate properly within any OLE container. More information on the requirements that a COM object must meet in order to be considered a valid OLE control can be found here. ActiveX Controls, OLE Controls, and COM Objects all can be instantiated in IE with an OBJECT tag or through script (“new ActiveXObject”, etc.) All are subject to Safe for Scripting, Safe for Initialization and the Kill-Bit.
