Java (programming language)

Java is an object-oriented programming language in which code is organized into objects that contain both data and operations. It was created by Sun Microsystems and released to the public in the mid-1990s. Oracle later acquired ownership of the technology after purchasing Sun.

The defining characteristic of Java is that code is compiled into an intermediate form called bytecode, which then runs on a virtual machine called the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). For this reason, the same program can run on different operating systems without the code needing to be rewritten.

Language Structure

Java uses static typing, meaning the data type of every variable must be declared before the program runs. The syntax and symbols are similar to C and C++, but Java removed the concept of direct pointers. Memory is not managed manually; instead, a process called garbage collection automatically frees memory that is no longer in use.

Development Environment

Java development depends on tools called the JDK (Java Development Kit), which includes a compiler and many ready-made libraries. End users running Java programs only need the JRE or JVM. There are also build systems such as Maven and Gradle that manage library dependencies.

Applications

Java is widely used in large business systems, server services, banking, and data management. It was also the foundation for Android app development for a long time, although the Kotlin language now has a significant presence there.