(
Visual
Basic E
Xtension) A component software technology from Microsoft that enabled a Visual Basic (Windows) program to add functionality by calling ready-made software modules. Also called "Visual Basic Controls," they appeared to the end user as just another part of the program. VBXs were Microsoft's first component architecture, and 16-bit VBXs were superseded by 32-bit OCXs (OLE controls/ActiveX controls). See
OCX and
ActiveX control.