On Windows, Flash Player was distributed as an for Internet Explorer, plus a NPAPI plugin for Firefox/Safari, and later PPAPI for Chrome.
Unlike the Plugin version (NPAPI) used by Firefox or the Pepper version (PPAPI) used by Chrome, ActiveX was a framework created by Microsoft for content sharing between different applications. In the context of Flash, it allowed Internet Explorer to "host" the Flash Player within its windows to render games, interactive menus, and video players. The Role of Chip.de in Distribution Adobe Flash Player 11 Activex Chip
In technical jargon, when a piece of software integrates tightly with the operating system kernel or shell, it is sometimes metaphorically described as being "chipped in" or "embedded like a chip." On Windows, Flash Player was distributed as an
As of December 31, 2020, Adobe officially stopped supporting Flash Player. On January 12, 2021, Adobe began blocking Flash content from running in the player altogether. The Role of Chip