Is it Necessary for Mac Users to Install an Adobe’s PPAPI Flash Plug-in?

Is it Necessary for Mac Users to Install an Adobe’s PPAPI Flash Plug-in? 1

Is It Necessary for Mac Users to Install an Adobe’s PPAPI Flash Plug-in?

When it comes to using software for creating different animations, graphic-oriented internet applications, games, mobile applications, etc., adobe flash is one of the best options. And, when it comes to viewing those multimedia content, adobe flash player is highly preferred.

You need an API( Application Programming Interface) version of your flash player to watch or stream online content. There are mainly two API versions of Adobe Flash Player: NPAPI and PPAPI. Different browsers need different API versions of Flash Player.

What exactly are NPAPI and PPAPI?

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NPAPI is Netscape Plug-in Application Programming Interface, and PPAPI is Pepper Plug-in Application Programming Interface. These are just the technical names. An API is a set of codes(instructions) that the software programs follow to interact. Plug-in API is nothing but an API with added customization options. NPAPI and PPAPI are two different PAPI by two different companies. NPAPI is by Netscape and was first developed in 1995. PPAPI is by Google and was developed in 2009.

These two PAPIs are for the support of different browsers. NPAPI is generally used for Safari and Firefox browsers, while for other browsers, PAPI is used. Also, PAPI is more secure and efficient when compared to NPAPI. It is used for Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Torch, etc.

Which PAPI support do you need?

As mentioned, if you use any Chromium-based browser, you need to support PPAPI on each of them. While if you use other than Chromium-based apps, then you need to enable NPAPI support. Unlike PPAPI, you don’t need to enable it for every app. Once you have installed it, it will enable the flash player for all browsers.

Hence, you need to download PPAPI only if you use Chromium-based applications. All the Google browsers are mostly Chromium-based. Other browsers like Opera, Opera Neon, Vivaldi, Yandex browser, Brave, Iridium, etc., are also Chromium based.

There is no need to worry if you don’t know what your browser is based on. The Adobe website automatically detects it when you go to the Player Download Centre. After that, it will provide you with a suitable plug-in version for your browser.

You need to regularly update your flash player whenever you get notified, mainly for security reasons and for speed aspects. Also, you can manually update it. For that, you need to go through the following steps.

  1. Go to “System Preferences” from Spotlight or Finder.
  2. After that, select “Flash Player” and click “Updates.” You will also see the different versions of the Flash Player installed previously.
  3. Click the “Check Now” button to know if there is an update. Install the update, and your job is done.

Conclusion

To conclude, PPAPI is generally more advantageous than NPAPI, provided you use Chromium-based browsers. If you use other browsers, it is unnecessary, and the NPAPI will be fine.