The term "Java" is frequently used to refer to both the Java programming language—a general-purpose language that is frequently used to develop programs for this platform—and the Java platform—a collection of tools that make it simple to develop applications for multiple platforms. The fact that Java is designed to run on any system that a Java virtual machine (JVM) can run on is the most important feature that sets it apart from many other technologies. Java's cross-platform capabilities were promoted under the slogan "write once, run anywhere."
Because Java environments can be found on large and small devices alike, Java developers have more leeway when it comes to treating their code as independent of the platform on which it runs. The syntax of the Java programming language is very similar to that of C++, which is an object-oriented language. Java programs are always designed with an object-oriented design, in contrast to some of the languages that came before it, which implemented classes but did not require the use of those classes. Although the Java virtual machine that executes Java code and the Java language are closely related, they are distinct. The Java virtual machine is able to execute code written in other languages, such as Groovy and Scala, that are made specifically for the JVM. Java should not be confused with JavaScript. While both languages can now be used in a variety of environments, JavaScript is a completely different tool for enabling interactive features in a web browser.
The two have very little in common other than a portion of their names. What is the purpose of Java? Java can be found in a variety of places, including your wrist or pocket. Android, an open source operating system based on Linux that powers millions of mobile devices worldwide, uses Java and its own unique set of libraries to build mobile applications for its platform. It's also possible that you're using Java on your desktop without realizing it. Java is used for running a wide range of applications, including the Eclipse integrated development environment, which is used by programmers for a wide range of languages and platforms, and hugely popular games like Minecraft. A number of web-based applications are also powered by Java. Although Java applets are no longer the standard for interactive web applications thanks to advancements in JavaScript and HTML, many people still rely on Java to provide an interactive experience in the browser. However, despite the fact that Java isn't used as much as it used to be as the front-end for web applications these days, it is still a very popular programming language used on many websites and web applications behind the scenes. Java has a rich ecosystem of tools for powering and connecting massively scalable applications that keep some of the largest websites and business operations up and running. These tools are made possible by the capabilities of Java Enterprise Edition as well as open source Java application servers like Apache Tomcat and WildFly. Is Java free to use? The licensing of Java is a long and complicated story, but most major Java components are now available under open source licenses, and those that aren't typically have open-source drop-in replacements. In 2006, Sun, the original Java developers, licensed a significant portion of Java under the GNU General Public License.
IcedTea and other projects filled in for parts of the Java Development Kit that were not available under an open license. As a result, Java applications can now be run without using any proprietary code. How to use a Java program The modular design of Java has been on the rise ever since version 9 was released. A small Java module is commonly included as part of modern Java applications. This indicates that you can run some applications without downloading Java. However, this is by no means universal at this time. A Java runtime environment (JRE) is required to run many Java applications. You can select the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) that best meets your requirements because Java is open source. OpenJDK or IcedTea JREs are typically included in Linux distributions. A JRE installer can be downloaded for Windows users from Red Hat's Developer portal. JRE installers can also be downloaded by MacOS, Windows, and Linux users from OpenJDK.java.net or Azul's Zulu community. Any Java program can run on your computer because the JRE you install was made just for your operating system. By installing Java, you enable your system to run any Java application on a layer known as a Java virtual machine, or JVM.
