When an applet begins, the following methods are called, in this sequence:

  1. init( )
  2. start( )
  3. paint( )

 

When an applet is terminated, the following sequence of method calls takes place:

  1. stop( )
  2. destroy( )

 

  1. init( ) : The init( ) method is the first method to be called. This is where you should initialize This method is called only once during the run time of your applet.
  2. start( ) : The start( ) method is called after init( ). It is also called to restart an applet after it has been stopped. Note that init( ) is called once i.e. when the first time an applet is loaded whereas start( ) is called each time an applet’s HTML document is displayed onscreen. So, if a user leaves a web page and comes back, the applet resumes execution at the start( ).
  3. paint( ): The paint( ) method is called each time an AWT-based applet’s output must be redrawn. This situation can occur for several reasons. For example, the window in which the applet is running may be overwritten by another window, and then the applet window may be minimized and then restored. paint( ) is also called when the applet begins execution. Whatever the cause, whenever the applet must redraw its output, paint( ) is called. The paint( ) method has one parameter of type Graphics. This parameter will contain the graphics context, which describes the graphics environment in which the applet is running. This context is used whenever output to the applet is required.
  4. stop( ): The stop( ) method is called when a web browser leaves the HTML document containing the applet—when it goes to another page, When stop( ) is called, the applet is probably running. You should use stop( ) to suspend threads that don’t need to run when the applet is not visible. You can restart them when start( ) is called if the user returns to the page.
  5. destroy( ): The destroy( ) method is called when the environment determines that your applet needs to be removed completely from memory. At this point, you should free up any resources the applet may be using. The stop( ) method is always called before destroy( ).