What is Java and what is it used for?

What is Java?

Java, not to be confused with Javascript, originated in California, developed by Sun Microsystems, a company founded in 1982 by Andreas Bechtolsheim, Vinod Khosla, and Scott McNeally. The language was released in 1995 and has continued to evolve consistently in order to keep up with the times.

Key features, properties and qualities of Java include:

• Concurrent: Java gives you the ability to run several programs, or part of a program at the same time, improving efficiency
• Class-based and object-oriented: Allows grouping of objects that can be used across projects, saving you time  
• Portable: Java runs on a ‘write once, use anywhere’ principle, meaning that once you have written code it can be used on other projects, rather than starting from scratch
• Secure: Once created, all Java code is converted to bytecode, which cannot be read by humans, protecting your work from untrusted sources and viruses

What is Java used for?

An enormous amount of applications and websites use java and will not work unless you have Java installed. Denying yourself Java is essentially denying yourself access to technological infrastructure. 

From laptops to datacenters, game consoles to scientific supercomputers, cell phones to the Internet, Java is a go-to language. Some common uses of Java are listed below:

• 97% of Enterprise Desktops run Java.
• 89% of Desktops (or Computers) in the U.S. run Java.
• 9 Million Java Developers exist worldwide.
• 3 billion mobile phones run Java.
• There are currently over 5 billion Java Cards in use.
• 125 million TV devices run Java.
• 5 of the Top 5 Original Equipment Manufacturers Ship Java ME.

What does Java do? 

Java has become invaluable to developers by enabling them to:

• Write software on one platform and run it on virtually any other platform.
• Create programs that can run within a web browser and access available web services.
• Develop server-side applications for online forums, stores, polls, HTML forms processing, and more.
• Combine applications or services using the Java language to create highly customized applications or services.
• Write powerful and efficient applications for mobile phones, remote processors, microcontrollers, wireless modules, sensors, gateways, consumer products, and practically any other electronic device.

Why is Java important?

While the world of technology is constantly advancing, at what seems like a faster than ever pace, people, even coders, have an unfortunate tendency to forget about the origins—the underlying principles. The ideas that influenced an abundance of modern-day technology. This is why Java is important – because not only does it continue to be a vital and invaluable programming language today, but it shaped the manner in which technology would unfold in the coming two decades and continue to unfold for the unforeseeable future.

Why is Java so popular?

The answer lies primarily with the exhaustive testing, updating and consistency of delivery that Java has historically provided. Java has been tested, refined, extended, and proven by a dedicated community of Java developers, architects and enthusiasts. Despite origins dating back almost two decades, Java has consistently evolved over the years.

Java is designed to enable the development of portable, high-performance applications for the widest range of computing platforms possible, hence enabling the fundamental tenets of overarching accessibility as well as cross-platform interaction. By making applications available across heterogeneous environments, businesses can provide more services, boost end-user productivity, communication, and collaboration, and dramatically reduce the ownership cost of enterprise and consumer applications.

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