What is Java?

What is Java ?

Java is a programming language created by Sun Microsystems (http://www.java.sun.com) and available for free download over the Internet. It has been available since the beginning of 1996 and has aroused huge interest both as a general programming language and for its Internet capabilities. It is one of the most highly sought after skills, both in industry and universities. Programs developed with Java can be sold (or given away) without paying anything to Sun Microsystems.

Java is one of the most sought after skills, both in business and in universities.

One of its exciting features is that programs written in Java can run on many types of computer without modification. Thus a program written on a Windows computer can be run on a Apple Macintosh a Linux or a Unix computer. Sun created the slogan “Write once, run anywhere” to describe this ability. As well as general purpose programs Java is used extensively for "Server Side" web programming, where the programs run on the web server and the user just sees the pages using any web browser. Versions of Java are also available from other organisations, notably from IBM, and Java has become the de-facto standard for downloadable games for mobile phones.