ActiveXObject is the key/initial function to enable and reference an "Automation object" in a Microsoft programming environment or the Internet Explorer browser. It is used when the object should be accessed entirely in script with no visual components. See also the activeX tag.
See activex.
Strictly speaking, ActiveXObject is just the key/initial function to enable and reference an "Automation object" in a Microsoft-only, programming environment. Automation Objects are objects referred to entirely in code with generally no UI design component. For example, in Internet Explorer this is used to access an activex object without inserting it into the page DOM.
Some also seem to apply this term to the system-interface objects referenced by ActiveXObject().
ActiveXObject and activeX is a Microsoft proprietary technology that works only in Microsoft programming environments or on Internet Explorer.
References:
ActiveXObject()reference: Visual Studio or JavaScriptWikipedia article on "ActiveX Data Objects" (Currently outdated, and lacking citations.)
