Java Last modified: Tuesday, September 21, 2004
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.
•E-mail this definition to a colleague• For internet.com pages about Java . Also check out the following links! EarthWeb's JARS Web Site  Home page for the Java Applet Rating Service from EarthWeb. Features a huge collection of reviewed and rated Java applets in a variety of categories, as well as many resources for Java, JavaScript, JavaBeans, ActiveX, VRML, and Perl. Java home page  Offers Java news and feature articles, white papers, products and APIs, developer information, user groups, event listing, FAQs, and a download directory. JavaBoutique's Java Jargon Q and A  Selena Sol, author of the JavaBoutique's Introduction to Java, answers users' questions about Java and the Internet. JavaWorld online magazine  JavaWorld magazine is IDG's magazine for the Java community of developers, managers, and enthusiasts who want to learn more about the revolutionary Java programming language and related technologies, including JavaScript. JavaWorld offers hands-on, how-to features and columns by Java experts, tips and tricks, news, reviews, applets, and resources. Compiling Java with Netscape Navigator under Unix This article describes how to compile Java code without the Java Developers Kit (JDK). CORBA and Java resources Links to CORBA, Java, and RMI programming related information. FreewareJava.com Categorized links to free Java applets of all types, Java tutorials, resources, and articles. IBM's Java Page Resource site for IBM developers using Java. Contains information about applications, applets and servlets, as well as developer tools and assistance, FAQs, white papers, and user groups. Java IDL Provides background information, a download link, documentation, and related information for the early access release of Java IDL. Jave IDL is part of JavaSoft's platform APIs and provides interoperability with CORBA. Java Programmer's FAQ Answers frequently-asked questions by Java programmers. Java Programming Resources Comprehensive Java resources: tutorials,documentation, download sites, CGI-in-Java, fully documented examples, and more. From the author of Core Web Programming. Java specifications Describes the Java API, Developer's Kit, language specifications and virtual machine specifications. Java tips page Introductory information on Java programming including an overview, information on creating and compiling Java applets, along with embedding applets in in HTML. Java tutorial on security Describes Java security restrictions. Licensing guidelines for Java source Provides information on obtaining the Java language source, source release and language FAQs, and information on porting. Server-side Java - article JavaWorld article (March 1997) with step-by-step instructions for the Netscape implementation of server-side Java and server-side applets. The Java Boutique - Java IDEs Features downloadable Java development environment demos, as well as a large collection of links to Java FAQs, how to articles, applets, reviews, and IDEs. The Java Memory Model Explained The Java Language specification has a whole chapter dedicated to explaining how threads and the Java memory model works, but the implementation details of the memory model are minimal and cause a lot of confusion. Enter the "Java Memory Model", JSR 133 tries to explain the memory model in detail and show how the JVM deals with threads and the memory. The Java Tutorial - A Practical Guide for Programmers Covers the fundamentals of programming in the Java language as well as information about the Java Development Kit (JDK), JavaBeans, JAR files, and JNI. This tutorial is hosted by Sun Microsystems. The Java Virtual Machine Specification Description of and link to the online version of the book entitled "The Java Virtual Machine Specification" by Sun's own designers of the Java VM, Tim Lindholm and Frank Yellin. Working with text in Java This page explains how to work with font metrics objects in Java, with particular emphasis on font ascenders and descenders.	Browsers Programming Languages ActiveX applet bytecode C# C++ CGI CLDC dynamic HTML HotJava IFC interpreter J2ME JAR JavaBeans JBOSS JDBC JDK Jini JIT JNI JVM JXTA object-oriented programming picoJava programming language Give Us Your Feedback Shopping Java Products Compare Products,Prices and Stores Shop by Category: Food and Drink 35 Store Offers Cellular Phones 197 Model Matches Shoes 72 Store Offers Lighting 1147 Store Offers Kitchen 907 Store Offers