Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, designed for platform independence and portability through the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Key features include its object-oriented nature, robustness, multi-threading capabilities, automatic garbage collection, security features, and a rich standard library. Various editions of Java exist, including Java SE for desktop applications, Java EE for enterprise applications, Java ME for mobile applications, and others, all sharing the core Java language and its syntax.