Component:

An AWT component classes are all derived from a general base class: the Component class. A Component class is an abstract class. This class declares the elements general to all Graphical User Interface components. A Component class is derived from the Object class. A Component class also implements the ImageObserver interface.

A Component class gives a unified interface to all the graphic components of the AWT. The below Figure displays all the AWT widgets derived from the Component class.

The  components in  this  hierarchy  could  be  divided  into  the  subsequent  functional groups:

• Simple widgets (buttons, checkboxes, and many more)
• Text controls
• The Canvas class