Java is a class-based, object-oriented programming language that is designed to have as few implementation

dependencies as possible. It is a general-purpose programming language intended to let application

developers write once, run anywhere (WORA),[17] meaning that compiled Java code can run on all platforms
that support Java without the need for recompilation.[18] Java applications are typically compiled to bytecode
that can run on any Java virtual machine (JVM) regardless of the underlying computer architecture. The
syntax of Java is similar to C and C++, but it has fewer low-level facilities than either of them. As of 2019, Java
was one of the most popular programming languages in use according to GitHub,[19][20] particularly for client-
server web applications, with a reported 9 million developers.[21]

Java was originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems (which has since been acquired by
Oracle) and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The original and
reference implementation Java compilers, virtual machines, and class libraries were originally released by Sun
under proprietary licenses. As of May 2007, in compliance with the specifications of the Java Community
Process, Sun had relicensed most of its Java technologies under the GNU General Public License. Oracle offers
its own HotSpot Java Virtual Machine, however the official reference implementation is the OpenJDK JVM
which is free open source software and used by most developers including the Eclipse IDE and is the default
JVM for almost all Linux distributions.

The latest versions are Java 14, released in March 2020, and Java 11, a currently supported long-term support
(LTS) version, released on September 25, 2018; Oracle released for the legacy Java 8 LTS the last free public
update in January 2019 for commercial use, while it will otherwise still support Java 8 with public updates for
personal use up to at least December 2020. Oracle (and others) highly recommend uninstalling older versions
of Java because of serious risks due to unresolved security issues.[22] Since Java 9, 10, 12 and 13 are no longer
supported, Oracle advises its users to immediately transition to the latest version (currently Java 14) or an
LTS release.

James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton initiated the Java language project in June 1991.[23] Java
was originally designed for interactive television, but it was too advanced for the digital cable television
industry at the time.[24] The language was initially called Oak after an oak tree that stood outside Gosling's
office. Later the project went by the name Green and was finally renamed Java, from Java coffee, the coffee
from Indonesia.[25] Gosling designed Java with a C/C++-style syntax that system and application programmers
would find familiar.[26]

Sun Microsystems released the first public implementation as Java 1.0 in 1996. [27] It promised Write Once,
Run Anywhere (WORA) functionality, providing no-cost run-times on popular platforms. Fairly secure and
featuring configurable security, it allowed network- and file-access restrictions. Major web browsers soon
incorporated the ability to run Java applets within web pages, and Java quickly became popular. The Java 1.0
compiler was re-written in Java by Arthur van Hoff to comply strictly with the Java 1.0 language specification.
[28]
With the advent of Java 2 (released initially as J2SE 1.2 in December 1998 – 1999), new versions had
multiple configurations built for different types of platforms. J2EE included technologies and APIs for
enterprise applications typically run in server environments, while J2ME featured APIs optimized for mobile
applications. The desktop version was renamed J2SE. In 2006, for marketing purposes, Sun renamed new J2
versions as Java EE, Java ME, and Java SE, respectively.

In 1997, Sun Microsystems approached the ISO/IEC JTC 1 standards body and later the Ecma International to
formalize Java, but it soon withdrew from the process.[29][30][31] Java remains a de facto standard, controlled
through the Java Community Process.[32] At one time, Sun made most of its Java implementations available
without charge, despite their proprietary software status. Sun generated revenue from Java through the
selling of licenses for specialized products such as the Java Enterprise System.
On November 13, 2006, Sun released much of its Java virtual machine (JVM) as free and open-source
software (FOSS), under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). On May 8, 2007, Sun finished the
process, making all of its JVM's core code available under free software/open-source distribution terms, aside
from a small portion of code to which Sun did not hold the copyright.[33]

Sun's vice-president Rich Green said that Sun's ideal role with regard to Java was as an evangelist.[34] Following
Oracle Corporation's acquisition of Sun Microsystems in 2009–10, Oracle has described itself as the steward
of Java technology with a relentless commitment to fostering a community of participation and transparency.
[35]
This did not prevent Oracle from filing a lawsuit against Google shortly after that for using Java inside the
Android SDK (see the Android section).

On April 2, 2010, James Gosling resigned from Oracle.[36]

In January 2016, Oracle announced that Java run-time environments based on JDK 9 will discontinue the
browser plugin.[37]

Java software runs on everything from laptops to data centers, game consoles to scientific supercomputers.[38]

Principles[edit]
There were five primary goals in the creation of the Java language: [18]

1. It must be simple, object-oriented, and familiar.

2. It must be robust and secure.
3. It must be architecture-neutral and portable.
4. It must execute with high performance.
5. It must be interpreted, threaded, and dynamic.