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JAVA
An object-oriented programming
language for creating programs that can run across different kinds
of hardware platforms - such as PCs, Macs, and cellular phones -
without having to rewrite the language specifically for each
platform. This is done using an applet.
More Detailed Definition:
A high-level programming language
developed by Sun Microsystems. Java was originally called OAK, and
was designed for handheld devices and set-top boxes. Oak was
unsuccessful so in 1995 Sun changed the name to Java and modified
the language to take advantage of the burgeoning World Wide Web.
Java is an object-oriented language similar to C++, but simplified
to eliminate language features that cause common programming
errors. Java source code files (files with a .java extension) are
compiled into a format called bytecode (files with a .class
extension), which can then be executed by a Java interpreter.
Compiled Java code can run on most computers because Java
interpreters and runtime environments, known as Java Virtual
Machines (VMs), exist for most operating systems, including UNIX,
the Macintosh OS, and Windows. Bytecode can also be converted
directly into machine language instructions by a just-in-time
compiler (JIT).
Java is a general purpose programming language with a number of
features that make the language well suited for use on the World
Wide Web. Small Java applications are called Java applets and can
be downloaded from a Web server and run on your computer by a
Java-compatible Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or
Microsoft Internet Explorer.
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