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What is Java?

Java Definition and Meaning can be purely defined as an object-oriented programming language and an operating system that can be used by billions of devices, including notebook computers, mobile phones, gaming consoles, medical devices, and more. Java is based on C and C++ rules and syntax.

An object-oriented, multi-platform, and network-centric language, Java supports all major platforms. Many programming languages use Java. The language is also used in computing platforms. Most organizations consider it one of the fastest, most secure, and most reliable languages for building their projects.

Java Definition and Meaning can be purely defined as an object-oriented programming language and an operating system that can be used by billions of devices, including notebook computers, mobile phones, gaming consoles, medical devices, and more. Java is based on C and C++ rules and syntax.

Its portability is one of the major advantages of Java software development. It is very easy to move Java code from a notebook computer to a mobile device after it has been written. Javascript is much simpler than Java, but Java is much more complex. It is not necessary to compile Javascript, while Java code has to be compiled. Additionally, Javascript can only be run in web browsers whereas Java can be run anywhere.

Java programming: What is it, and why is it called that?

Programming in Java is compelling. It allows applications for desktops and mobile devices, big data processing, embedded systems, and much more. Oracle, the company that owns Java, reports that Java is used on 3 billion devices worldwide.

The Java programming language is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language designed to have fewer implementation dependencies.

Application developers use it to develop applications. Due to its security and reliability, Java is very fast and flexible. Almost every laptop, data center, game console, scientific supercomputer, and cell phone uses it to develop Java applications.

Developing and running Java programming applications is made a lot easier with Java Platform. It includes a set of libraries, a compiler, and an execution engine. A computer program consists of several components. Originally developed by Sun Microsystems, the Java platform was acquired by Oracle in 1999.

Java is known for its platform independence. Code written for one platform can be executed on other platforms
The Java programming language can be used for many different purposes. Applications for mobile and desktop use, big data processing, embedded systems, etc. can be developed with this technology.
Languages such as Java are object-oriented. This makes it easier to reuse code.

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Java Programming Language History

The history of Java is very interesting. The original intention of Java was to be used in interactive television, however, at the time digital cable television was too advanced for it. A Green Team was responsible for developing Java. It was a Java team member (also known as the Green Team) who initiated this project in order to create a programming language for digital devices, such as televisions, set-top boxes, etc. As a result, it was more suitable for internet programming. Netscape later integrated Java into its software.

Object-oriented, multithreaded, architecture-neutral, safe, secure, multithreaded, multithreaded, interpretable, and dynamic were the principles for creating Java. As Java’s father, James Gosling developed the language in 1995. In the early 1990s, James Gosling and members of his team began work on the project. At present, Java is used for e-business solutions, mobile devices, web programming, and gaming.

1) James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton initiated the Java language project in June 1991. Sun engineers made up the Green Team.

2) A small, embedded system was initially intended for electronic appliances such as set-top boxes.

3) The file extension was .gt, and it was called “Greentalk.”.

4) The following year, it was renamed Oak and became a part of the Green project.

Features of Java

Java 17 also supports all features from Java 8, as described at the beginning of this guide. There is no difference between previous Java versions.

Java 8’s language features serve as great Java base knowledge, while all of Java 9-17’s language features are merely an extension of those features.

The following are some important Java features:

Using it is easy since it is a simple programming language.
Platform-independence is a Java feature. It is possible to run some programs created on one machine on another.
Object-oriented applications can be created with it.
It has automatic memory management and is multithreaded
In the Internet environment, it was designed for distributed computing.
Almost any computing platform can run your code.
As its network-centric, it facilitates distributed computing.

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What is Java Platform?

The Java platform allows developers and administrators to create and manage Java applets and applications. As well as the Java virtual machine and Java packages, a Java virtual machine includes the Java language. C++ and its class libraries are similar to the Java language and packages. Classes in the Java packages are available in any Java implementation that is compliant with them. Any system that supports Java should provide the same application programming interface (API).

The way Java compiles and runs differs from that of a traditional language like C++. Traditional programming environments involve writing and compiling source code into object code for specific hardware and operating systems. An object code module binds to another object code module to create a running program. It cannot be run on another set of hardware without being changed, as it is specific to a particular set of hardware.

The following defines a traditional deployment environment for languages.

Java Development Kit

Java developers use the JDK (Java Development Kit). Java classes, interpreter, compiler, debugger, disassembler, applet viewer, stub file generator, and documentation generator are included.

Java threads

In a program, a thread consists of an independent process. A Java virtual machine may run more than one thread at a time because Java is a multithreaded programming language. Java threads enable a Java program to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Threads allow a program to handle control flows.

Java applets and applications

Applets are Java programs that are embedded in HTML Web documents. In the same way that an image is included on an HTML page, you can include your Java applet in the same way. The Java virtual machine on your system runs the applet’s code when you view an HTML page that contains an applet through a Java-enabled browser.

Java JAR and class files

Java ARchive (JAR) files combine several files into one. A significant difference between Java and other programming environments is that Java’s compiler does not produce machine code for hardware-specific instructions. Rather, the Java compiler converts Java source code into Java virtual machine instructions, which are stored in Java class files. You can store class files using JAR files. Instead of targeting a specific hardware platform, the class file targets the Java virtual machine architecture.

Java virtual machine

Adding a Java virtual machine to a web browser or any operating system, such as IBM i, provides a runtime environment.

Java virtual machines execute instructions generated by Java compilers. Java class files can execute on any platform, regardless of the platform on which they were originally developed, thanks to the use of a bytecode interpreter and runtime.

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What are the different types of Java platforms?

There are four platforms on which Java can run:

Java Platform-Standard Edition (Java SE)
Java Platform- Enterprise Edition (Java EE)
Java Platform -Micro Edition (Java ME)
Java FX

Platforms based on Java are application programming interfaces (APIs) and Java virtual machines (VMs). Using the Java Virtual Machine, applications written in Java technology can run on a specific hardware and software platform. A software API consists of a collection of components that can be used to build other software components or applications. Through a virtual machine and an API, Java is able to run applications written for one platform on another while providing all the benefits of Java programming, including platform independence, power, stability, developer ease, and security.

Java SE

An API and a Java Virtual Machine (VM) are the two components of every Java platform. Java applications can run on a specific hardware platform and software platform using the Java Virtual Machine. APIs are composed of components that can be used to build other software applications or components. A Java virtual machine and API allow you to run applications written for one platform on any compatible system while still taking advantage of all the Java programming language’s benefits: platform independence, power, stability, developer ease, and security.

Java EE

A platform like Java SE serves as the foundation for Java EE. This open-source platform gives developers access to an API that enables them to develop and execute large-scale, scalable, reliable, and secure network applications.

Java ME

Through an API and a small-footprint virtual machine, Java ME enables Java applications on small devices like mobile phones. Among the API’s responsibilities are a subset of Java SE API and a set of class libraries that can use to create applications for small devices. The Java ME platform is often used to build Java EE applications.

Java FX

Rich internet applications can be written in JavaFX Script using Java FX technology. For JavaFX applications, Java classes can be included and linked. It is possible to make use of JavaEE features. JavaFX scripts are statically-typed declarative languages that are compiled into Java technology bytecode for execution on a Java virtual machine.

Independent platform

In other words, Java byte code (compiled code) can run on any operating system what makes java platform independent.

A human-readable language is used in writing the program. There may be some words and phrases that the machine cannot understand. In order for a machine to understand a source code, it must be written in a machine-friendly language. This is where a compiler comes in. Compilers convert high-level languages (human languages) into machines’ understandable formats. Compilers transform the source code of one program into executable code through the translation of a programming language.

In alternative cases, it could be an intermediate representation interpreted by a virtual machine or a series of machine instructions that the CPU would directly execute. A Java Byte Code is an example of an intermediate representation.

Java compilers do not produce native executable code specific to a particular machine, like the C compiler. They produce bytecode, which is in its own format. According to the virtual machine specifications, it executes according to its rules. As a result, Java supports all platforms equally. Bytecode can be understood by any JVM installed on any operating system. Almost any operating system can run Java source code.

How to execute a Java program step by step:

Javac compiles JAVA programs whenever they are written.
Unlike C compilers, the JAVA compiler produces .class files or bytecode instead of machine native code.
In order to execute the generated bytecode on a machine, an interpreter is required. Since bytecode is interpreted by this JVM, the JVM executes the Bytecode.

Lastly, the program produces an output.

Java is platform-independent, but JVM is platform-dependent. If you run Mac OS X, your JVM will differ from one run on Windows or some other operating system. Similarly, when it comes to Java, the JVM changes depending on the operating system. You can verify this fact by downloading the appropriate Java Virtual Machine for your computer – when downloading, you will be presented with a list of JVMs corresponding to various operating systems, and you will obviously choose the JVM that is appropriate for your operating system. As a result, JVM is platform-dependent, which is why Java can be considered platform-independent.

Java is platform-independent thanks to Bytecode, which makes it platform-independent.

In my opinion, Java’s portability is one of its strongest features. Installing the JDK software automatically creates a JVM for each system. The JVM is available for every operating system and can read .class files and byte codes.

One important thing to keep in mind is that, although JAVA is a platform-independent language, the JVM is not. JVMs are designed for different operating systems, and bytecode can run on different operating systems.

Different Versions of Java

In the following table, you can find the release dates for all Java versions.

Every six months, a newer version of Java is released. Consequently, Java 18 will be released in March 2022, Java 19 will be released in September 2022, etc. There was a time when Java released new versions every three years. The graphic below shows:

Since there are so many new versions coming out, here are some examples of real-world(TM) usage scenarios:

Java 8 is still widely used by companies (see Why do companies still use Java 8? ). You will therefore have to use this version.
There are even legacy projects still running on Java 1.5 (released in 2004) and 1.6 (released in 2006) .
When using the latest IDEs, frameworks, and tools, you can work with Java 11 (LTS) or even Java 17 (LTS) with a greenfield project without hesitation.
The Android field is a special case, where Java 7 is basically the only version supported, with only a few Java 8 features available. Alternatively, you can switch to Kotlin.

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Components Of Java Programming Language

The main components of the Java programming language

1. Java Development Kit (JDK)

When developing Java programs and applications, JDK is essential. Software development environments come with a wide range of tools, such as a compiler, documentation generator, interpreter, and more. By converting Java code into bytecode, the compiler produces bytecode.

The Java Development Kit is a platform-specific program but it can be used on a variety of operating systems, such as Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is necessary to have separate JDK installers for different Operating Systems. In addition to this, you can also write Java programs using various tools, which are then executed by JRE.

2. Java Virtual Machine (JVM)

Java applications are commonly known as Write Once Run Anywhere (WORA) applications because they can run on any platform. Furthermore, JVM provides a way to execute Java applications and code, further converting Java bytecode into machine language. Contrary to most other programming languages, Java’s compiler creates machine code for the Java Virtual Machine.

The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is not only part of the Java Run Environment (JRE), but it also includes a range of tools, frameworks, and libraries. As one of the key components of the Java platform, JVM executes source code with platform independence, which is why you can run a Java program on any platform without any restrictions. In addition to these features, the JVM offers a Just-in-Time (JIT) compiler, which translates Java source code into machine language, explaining the fast performance of Java applications.

3. Java Runtime Environment (JRE)

The JRE contains loader classes, class libraries, and a Java Virtual Machine. The Java Runtime Environment is responsible for executing Java programs. Overall, JRE is a software package that is installed on the computer system and allows Java code to be seized, blended with libraries, and executed by JVM. You will need JDK if you are a programmer. Although it does run Java programs, JRE does not feature tools related to development, such as a compiler or debugger. It is imperative that JRE be installed on your system if you wish to run Java applets. You will need to download the JRE that is most compatible with your operating system, since it is platform-dependent.

JRE also has class libraries, JVM, and uses a variety of package classes such as lang, swing, util, math, and runtime libraries.

What is java used for?

Java is a common server-side programming language used for back-end projects, including big data processing and Android development. Java is widely used for mobile computing, games, and numerical processing, in addition to desktop computing. Java’s popularity is further evidenced by the fact that 90% of Fortune 500 companies utilize it.

Among many reasons for Java’s popularity, portability is one of them, but there are also other reasons for developers to continue to use Java. This object-oriented language is robust and secure, but it’s also relatively easy to learn compared to languages like C and C++ because it is object-oriented. Object-oriented languages facilitate the solution of complex problems and provide greater modularity. Software design is based on this ideal. Java objects allow encapsulation of data and behaviour, which facilitates code reuse, testing, and troubleshooting.

A Java object is defined by a class, which defines its attributes (data) and behavior. Furthermore, inheritance in Java contributes to simplifying code. Objects with similar but different characteristics can be streamlined by inheriting the common attributes and behaviors from their parents. In this way, common code can be reused while still allowing for differences. Object-oriented programming is using Java to build programs, which is widely used. Because of its security features, Java is widely used. The language has many uses and is popular among Java enthusiasts. Java is an excellent tool for creating a variety of applications, such as enterprise software, network applications, desktop software, web software, games, and Android applications. We will discuss what Java is used for, how we can use Java, and why we use Java in this section.

During the installation of Java, you are told that 3 billion devices run Java, proving that the Java programming language is extremely popular. The Java programming language provides developers with a rich set of APIs that can be used to create applications. Java can be used to create a wide range of applications. For instance, we can create the following applications with Java:

Desktop GUI Applications
Gaming Applications
IoT Applications
Web-based Applications
Distributed Applications
Mobile App Development
Big Data Technologies
Cloud-based Applications

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The following Java applications are important:

Scientific Computing Applications
Used for Server-Side Technologies like JBoss, Apache, GlassFish, etc.
Provides help in creating enterprise software
A Java-based approach to hardware programming
Analyze big data with this method
It is used for developing Android Apps
Wide range of Mobile java Applications

How are Java and JavaScript Dissimilar?

Java	JavaScript
Variables must be declared before being utilized in a program because Java is a strictly typed language. In Java, a variable’s type is verified during compilation.	JavaScript features a more permissive grammar and set of rules, and it is a loosely typed language.
Java is a type of object-oriented computer language that is mainly used to make complex business apps.	JavaScript is a scripting language that is utilized in the process of developing dynamic and interactive web pages.
Java programs can be executed in any browser or virtual machine (JVM).	JavaScript code was formerly limited to running in browsers, but Node.js now allows it to operate on servers.
Classes serve as the structural basis for Java’s objects, and it is impossible to write a Java program without first creating a class.	Objects in JavaScript are constructed using prototypes.
The “.Java” file extension is given to programs written in Java. These programs convert source code into bytecodes, which are then executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).	“.js” files are JavaScript files that are interpreted, not built.A JavaScript interpreter is built into every browser, which allows JS code to be executed. If compile time was
Java is an Independent language.	Located on a website and included in the HTML content of the page on which it is located.
Java handles concurrency with a thread-based model.	Javascript handles concurrency via an event-based model.
Java has multithreading capabilities, enabling the simultaneous operation of several threads of execution within a single program.	Web workers can be used to simulate multithreading, even if JavaScript does not support it natively.
Many libraries and frameworks, including Spring, Hibernate, and Struts, facilitate enterprise application development in Java.	React, Angular, and Vue are a few web application development frameworks and tools available in JavaScript.
Most backend applications use Java.	The front end and back end both require Javascript.
Because Java is statically typed, data types are decided upon during compilation.	Because of its dynamic typing system, JavaScript’s data types are resolved at execution time.
Java is commonly utilized for developing desktop, mobile, and online applications on the server side.	Client-side web application development is where JavaScript shines. However, it has also found a home on the server, thanks to technologies like Node.js.
Java requires additional RAM.	Less memory is required for JavaScript.
To execute Java code, you will need the Java Development Kit (JDK).	Any text editor or web browser’s console can run JavaScript code.

Why is Java Such A Well-liked Option for Contemporary Software Developers?

A lot of people like Java because it’s simple to use. Here are some reasons why developers still pick Java over other computer languages:

High-quality Learning Materials

Since Java has been around for a while, there are a lot of tools for new programmers to use to learn how to use it. Developers can get help with the learning curve through detailed documentation, books with lots of information, and classes. Core Java is also a good place for beginners to write code before going to Advanced Java.

2. Built-in Libraries and Services

Developers don’t have to write each new code from scratch using Java. Instead, Java has a lot of built-in methods and libraries that can be used to make a wide range of apps.

3. Active Support For The Neighborhood

There are a lot of busy users of Java, and the community can help developers when they’re having trouble with their code. The software for the Java platform is also regularly kept and updated.

4. Good Tools for Growth

Java has many tools to help with automatic testing, debugging, editing, deployment, and managing changes. With these tools, writing in Java takes less time and money.

5. Independent of Platform

You don’t have to rewrite Java code for it to run on Windows, Linux, iOS, or Android. This makes it even more valuable in today’s world, where we want to use apps on many devices.

6. Assurance of Safety

People can get Java code from a network they don’t trust and run it in a safe place where it can’t hurt anyone. Code that you don’t trust can’t read or write files to or from the hard drive or put a virus on the host machine. Java also lets you change many things about its protection and restrictions.

The Name of The Computer Language Java is JAVA. Why?

Numerous factors, including its origins and design goals, went into choosing the name “Java” for the Java programming language. The language was first created at Sun Microsystems in the early 1990s by James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton. It was previously known as “Oak.” Nonetheless, the original name was eventually changed to “Java” for numerous significant factors:

Trademark Considerations: A new name was required to avoid trouble with the law because the term “Oak” was already registered by another software company.
Connection to Coffee: “Java” alludes to the coffee-producing Indonesian island, the team’s passion for the beverage, and the notion that working with the language would give developers a “stimulating” work environment.

Marketability and Branding: “Java” was found to be a more memorable and marketable name than “Oak.” The language’s creation aimed to make it associated with the emerging internet and networked computing era.

Broad Idea: In the same way Coffee is loved by people worldwide, the name “Java” matched Sun Microsystems’ idea of a universal, platform-independent language that can operate on any device.

In conclusion, the name “Java” was selected due to its marketability, cultural connotations, legal viability, and compatibility with the language’s aspirational objectives of networked computing and platform independence. Since then, it has become one of the most widely used and durable programming languages worldwide, supporting various programs and systems.

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