Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle) and released in 1995. It is designed to be platform-independent, meaning programs written in Java can run on any system that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
Key Features of Java
-
Platform Independence
- Java follows the "Write Once, Run Anywhere" (WORA) principle.
- Code is compiled into bytecode, which runs on the JVM, making it cross-platform.
-
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
- Java is based on OOP concepts like Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism, and Abstraction.
-
Simple and Secure
- Java eliminates complex features of C++ (e.g., pointers).
- It has a built-in security model and automatic memory management (Garbage Collection).
-
Robust and Reliable
- Java has strong memory management and exception handling to prevent crashes.
-
Multi-threading Support
- Java allows concurrent execution of multiple tasks, improving performance.
-
Rich API and Libraries
- Java provides a wide range of built-in libraries for networking, database handling, and GUI development.
-
Community and Industry Support
- Java is widely used in enterprise applications, mobile development (Android), web applications, and cloud computing.
Java Program Execution Flow
- Write Java Code (
.java
file) - Compile using javac (Java Compiler) → Converts code to bytecode (
.class
file) - Execute using JVM → Runs bytecode on any platform with a Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
Basic Java Program
java
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
}
}
Explanation:
public class HelloWorld
→ Defines a class namedHelloWorld
.public static void main(String[] args)
→ The main method, entry point of Java programs.System.out.println("Hello, World!");
→ Prints text to the console.
Applications of Java
- Web Development (Spring, Hibernate)
- Mobile Development (Android)
- Enterprise Applications (Banking, Finance)
- Game Development
- Cloud Computing & Big Data
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